“A child of God is dead.”
That message came Wednesday (Feb. 14) not from a religious leader, but from CNN counterterrorism analyst Phil Mudd as he broke down while discussing the school shooting that had happened earlier in the day.
In all, 17 people were killed in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., making it one of the deadliest school shootings in modern American history.
The shooting came on Ash Wednesday, when Catholic and many Protestant Christians remember their mortality as they begin the penitential season of Lent. It also happened to be Valentine’s Day, when many Americans plan to celebrate their loved ones, not lose them.
Details still are emerging, and authorities have not commented on a motive. The 19-year-old suspected gunman reportedly had been expelled from the school. The leader of a white supremacist group also has claimed the suspect was a member and had participated in paramilitary drills, though local police say they have not yet found a connection between the suspect and the group.
And many religious leaders are still searching for words in the aftermath of the tragedy; most called for prayer, while some begged for that prayer to be accompanied by action.
Here is a sampling of their reactions, some of which have been edited for length:
Paula White, pastor of New Destiny…
… Read More
Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.