Criticism Over Prayer Response to Minneapolis School Shootings
Bishop Robert Baron from Minnesota has sharply criticized Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for dismissing calls for prayer following a tragic shooting at a Catholic school on Wednesday, labeling the mayor’s comments as “completely asinine.”
He expressed to Fox News Digital, “Catholics understand that prayer is not a magical shield against suffering. Jesus Himself prayed even as He faced death on the cross.”
The shooting at Announcement Catholic School resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to 18 others during morning mass. FBI director Kash Patel has indicated that the bureau is treating the incident as both a potential act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime aimed at Catholics.
Authorities revealed that the shooter left behind anti-religious writings in their manifesto, even scrawling messages on their weapons.
At a subsequent press conference, Mayor Frey chastised those emphasizing prayer in the wake of such tragedy. “We shouldn’t be saying this is about ‘thoughts and prayers.’ These kids were literally praying during mass,” he remarked, highlighting the context of the event as the beginning of the school year.
His remarks echoed sentiments from various Democratic officials and some media outlets who were quick to downplay faith-based reactions to the violence.
Bishop Baron, a prominent figure within the Catholic community who leads the Parish of Winona Rochester, argued that such critics misinterpret the essence of prayer. “Prayer elevates the heart toward God, particularly in times of great sorrow,” he said. “It does not stand in opposition to decisive moral action—think of Martin Luther King, a man of deep prayer who spurred social change. It isn’t an either-or scenario.”
The bishop further asserted that the shooting should be recognized as an intentional act of anti-Catholic violence.
“Over the past seven years, violence against Christians and their places of worship has surged by 700%. Christianity is statistically the most persecuted religion globally. We might wonder if the tragedy in Minneapolis reflects this anti-Catholic sentiment,” he stated.
He questioned, “If a synagogue were attacked while congregants were praying, would anyone dispute that it was an anti-Semitic act?”
A recent report from the Conservative Family Research Council noted a marked rise in incidents targeting churches, documenting at least 415 attacks on 383 religious institutions across 43 states in 2024.
Bishop Baron lamented the deaths of the two children and referred to them as tragic yet powerful embodiments of faith.
He acknowledged that events like this prompt profound inquiries into the nature of evil but also emphasized a message of hope within the Gospel, even amid suffering. “We recognize that while God is powerful and present, there are those who perpetrate evil,” he elaborated. “It’s difficult to understand why some evils are tolerated by God, but we are assured of His companionship in our suffering.”
Catholic Vice President JD Vance also voiced support for prayer in the face of tragedy in a post directed at MSNBC host Jen Psaki. He wrote, “We pray because our hearts are broken, because we believe God listens and can work wonders through our sorrow. Why do we need to attack others for praying when they’re grieving?”
A spokesperson for Mayor Frey defended his comments, emphasizing that the mayor has consistently maintained that thoughts and prayers should not replace actionable solutions. “They should coexist; one doesn’t negate the other,” the statement asserted.
