Letter to the Editor 8-9-19

 Dear Editor, The tragedies against the people in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, have prompted us to respond with the following. Because of our long-term relationships with our Latino brothers and sisters here in Kansas as well as in the El Paso and Border region, we choose to focus our attention toward them realizing however, that the pain caused by violence against any people is a sin against humanity: We, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, Kansas, cry out in protest against the senseless acts of violence inflicted upon innocent peoples Saturday, August 3rd at Walmart in El Paso, Texas and a few hours later in Dayton, Ohio. Evidence reflects that the violent acts in El Paso were directed toward our Latino brothers and sisters. The Gospel call is clear, that we are to recognize the dignity of each person without exception. As Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, we have had a long-standing relationship with the people of El Paso and the Border region. Our relationship began with an invitation by Bishop A. J. Schuler in 1927 to assume the operation of a Tuberculosis Sanatorium. We accepted the invitation and in later years moved into a broader range of health care, education, social services, diocesan and parish ministries, and more recently, providing border experiences. In and through the people of the El Paso region, we have been strengthened by their faith, compassion, tenderness, generosity and courage; hence, we are stunned and shaken by this violence leveled against them. We call upon Congress to address the issues of racism, hatred, bigotry and white supremacy that seemingly underlie the violence perpetrated at this time in our U.S society. We believe our nation needs stronger gun control legislation. Why the fear of a background check? We also believe that assault type weapons do not belong on the streets of a civilized society. We Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia commit ourselves to pray, stay attentive, be a people of hope, and work untiringly for justice in these challenging times. With deep affection, Sisters Judy Stephens, Mary Ljungdahl, Anna Marie Broxterman on behalf of the Sisters of St. Joseph