UUA President Releases Statement on Tennessee Shootings

[trystan830]

Statement from Rev. William G. Sinkford, President, Unitarian Universalist AssociationI am shocked and sorrowed by the terrible shootings in the sanctuary of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. My heart is heavy and my prayers are with our injured sisters and brothers in Knoxville. While many details of this tragedy remain unclear,

Comments

[uinendolothen]

Do your girls know about it? We don't have television reception and we don't receive the newspaper, so ours have been sheltered from this news. I'm wondering if/when I should tell them ... and how.

Two places I never want them to fear going - church and school. I don't want to make them afraid of church by telling them about this but they're likely to hear about it if we attend services any time soon.

*sigh*

[trystan830]

i don't believe they do know... and yes, you're right - church and school should be safe havens....

*hugs*

[ex_nadeshiko480]

It's so sad that things like this happens to a church.

I just hope that a tragedy like this has the power to bring people together rather than tear them apart.

[trystan830]

i know... as Uinen said above - there's two places you shouldn't be afraid to go - school and church.

things like this do bring people together, but for how long, y'know?

*sigh*

[beggar_always]

There's a part of me that's shocked this happened...and another part that's sadly come to expect the worst from people. My disillusionment with the majority of society is what led me to the UU church in the first place and to know there are people out there who would go to such great lengths to destroy that safe haven just...I can't even think of a short way to put it. Pissed/Upset/Depressed/Hopeless/etc.

I just wish that, as humans, we weren't afraid of things that are different. And that, when we find we can't help but be afraid, we could at least seek understanding instead of violence.

Sorry for the long comment...just wanted to get that off my chest, I guess.

[trystan830]

I just wish that, as humans, we weren't afraid of things that are different. And that, when we find we can't help but be afraid, we could at least seek understanding instead of violence.
that would be awesome!

but unfortunately, what people are afraid of sometimes clouds their judgement - like this.

long comments are perfectly all right - no need to apologize.

[vichan]

There have been a few times when I'm not a fan of Sinkford, but he's really stepped up when he was definitely needed.

Now there are some calling for the death penalty for the shooter... which is just boggling me since UUs are generally anti-death penalty. I hope the congregation and the victims will get some say in how he is brought to justice.

[trystan830]

i actually don't have an opinion on Bill Sinkford, other than what i've seen and how he reacts to things like this - and he's done good.

I hope the congregation and the victims will get some say in how he is brought to justice.
i agree with you.