Catholic School Shooting: A Message of Hope and Prayer | The American Spectator

I generally don’t like drawing attention to members of the Catholic hierarchy whom I know well, because I prefer their actions and words speak for themselves.
But I must say something publicly about the exemplary pastoral leadership of His Excellency Bernard A. Hebda in the wake of a horrific mass shooting that took place in his archdiocese on Wednesday.
Only a divine voice can deliver that message, and only a pastor attuned to that voice in daily prayer can channel that voice.
Having known Archbishop Hebda for many years — as a seminary formator, a colleague at the Holy See, as my Ordinary in the Diocese of Gaylord, and as a dear friend — I am not surprised at his courage and faith. The people of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, I trust, need no further convincing of how blessed they are to have such a devoted shepherd.
But all of us, Catholic or not, have something to learn from his reaction to this unspeakable evil. For even in the throes of the immediate confusion and sorrow surrounding the attack, His Excellency made two corrections that were crucial for facing this unspeakable horror head on and the finding strength to carry on.
I realize Mayor Jacob Frey was distraught and angry at the “unthinkable tragedy” (as Chief of Police, Brian O’Hara, put it) that had just taken place in his city. It’s virtually impossible to come up with appropriate words in such a moment.
But, as the city’s leader, Mayor Frey should have thought twice before saying, “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now,” because I would be absolutely shocked if anyone who offered him and his city thoughts and prayers really thought that it was only “about” that. Everybody knows it’s about infinitely more, and everybody knows the families and community are reeling from unspeakable grief.
My heart aches deeply for the school’s principal Matt DeBoer. We cannot credit him enough for the preparedness he instilled in his teachers, staff, and students for such an unimag…