THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 37, NO. 41 | JUNE 17, 2016
ORLANDO NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING
‘A sword has pierced heart of our city’
CNS PHOTO/CARLO ALLEGRI, REUTERS
O
People hold hands in a circle during a June 12 vigil in an Orlando, Florida, park following a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in that city earlier that morning.
RLANDO, Fla. (CNS) — Orlando Bishop John G. Noonan u r g e d people of faith “to turn their hearts and souls” to God and pray for the victims, the families and first responders following the worst mass shooting in U.S. history June 12. “A sword has pierced the heart of our city,” he said in a statement. “The healing power of Jesus goes beyond our physical wounds but touches every level of our humanity: physical, emotional, social, spiritual,” he said. “Jesus calls us to remain fervent in our protection of life and human dignity and to pray unceasingly for peace in our world.” The shooting rampage at a gay nightclub in Orlando left 50 people dead, including the gunman, and 53 wounded.
SUMMER
CNS PHOTO/TOM TRACY
People gather in West Palm Beach, Florida, June 12 to mourn those killed in a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Police said a lone gunman identified as 29-year-old Omar Mir Seddique Mateen — opened fire inside
The Leaven is in its biweekly summer schedule. The next issue will be July 2.
the Pulse club in Orlando in the early morning hours. News reports said that Mateen, who pledged allegiance
IN MOURNING
Father Pat Riley, pastor of Holy Family in Eudora, dies at 61. Page 5
to the Islamic State terrorist group, died in a gun battle with SWAT team members. Across the nation, reaction from church and community leaders was swift, and in cities large and small, people organized candlelit vigils for the victims and their families the night of the shooting. “Waking up to the unspeakable violence in Orlando reminds us of how precious human life is,” said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, who is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Our prayers are with the victims, their families and all those affected by this terrible act,” he said in a statement June 12. “The merciful love of Christ calls us to solidarity with the suffering and to ever greater resolve in protecting the life and dignity of every person.” “Our prayers and hearts are with the victims of the mass shooting in >> See “THE UGLY” on page 11
CELEBRATING 100
St. Leo Church in Horton celebrated its centennial on May 22. Page 16