Bishop Diocesan John Harvey Taylor has offered the following statement and prayer in response to last night's Borderline shooting that killed 12 and injured others in Thousand Oaks, a Ventura County city within the Diocese of Los Angeles. The Rev. George Daisa, rector of St. Patrick's Church in Thousand Oaks, has been assisting in local pastoral care and will participate in a vigil planned for 6 p.m. this evening at Thousand Oaks City Hall, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Information on this and other vigils is
here
. Resources of the ongoing diocesan work in gun violence prevention are
here
and
here
.
A statement by Bishop John Harvey Taylor
"The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles joins in mourning the victims of the Borderline shooting in Thousand Oaks and offering words of comfort and support to their families and those who were wounded. This act of anger, hatred, and violence reminds us of Jesus Christ's invitation to his realm of forgiveness, love, and peace. We make our way there together by merciful acts of prayer and consolation and then resolute acts of justice and mercy: Advocating along with Bishops United Against Gun Violence for common-sense reforms; supporting organizations pledged to serve veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq who are battling trauma and the effects of moral hazard; and working to erase the stain of social isolation by making our churches and other faith institutions places of connection and care for all people."
A prayer by Bishop John Harvey Taylor; text also posted earlier today on social media
"Merciful Creator, in moments of unendurable loss, especially when your creatures act toward one another with murderous anger and hatred, it is hard to remember that we are made for love, saved by love, and bathed in love; may your eternal, unfailing, and immediate rebuke to hate with love and darkness with light illumine and comfort all those who have been wounded in body and spirit by the shootings at Borderline in Thousand Oaks. By the grace of your Spirit, even on this day, may we make progress along the Way toward your kingdom of peace. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who bore all these wounds. Amen."
