Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, condemned violence, and Bishop David Bonnar of Youngstown, Ohio said the issue of gun violence must be addressed.
U.S. bishops said violence is never the answer after a shooter breached the hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., and injured a Secret Service agent on April 25.
Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement, “We are grateful the lives of the President, those who protect him, and everyone in attendance last night were spared from serious harm. Let us all pray for our elected leaders and public officials that they may receive God’s blessings. Because human life is a precious gift, there is no room for violence of any kind in our society.”
Attendees heard gunshots shortly after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner began at the Washington Hilton hotel. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and several cabinet members were evacuated by federal agents. Trump said in a press conference at the White House following the shooting that a lone suspect was taken into police custody and one federal agent was
