| > back | Bishop's Statements Bishop McGrath issues statement on attacks in New York, Washington (San Jose)—Roman Catholic Bishop of San Jose Patrick J. McGrath issued the following statement today following the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.: “I ask for prayer and restraint as we begin to absorb the shocking events of this morning. We offer condolences to the families of those killed and we pray for all those who have been injured. “We pray also for the many heroic rescue workers, among them fire, police and disaster specialists, who now must deal with the aftermath of these horrific events. “I echo the words of Pope John Paul II and his offer of prayers for the victims and all Americans in ‘this dark and tragic moment.’ I thank the Holy Father for his sincere concern for this nation. “In union with my brother bishops throughout the United States, I concur with the statement issued by the Administrative Committee of the U. S. Catholic Conference of Bishops calling for prayer, solidarity with those who are suffering, support of our government leaders in the aftermath, and calling upon ‘all our fellow citizens to renew their trust in God and to turn away from the bitter fruits of the kind of hatred which is the source of this tragedy.’” Bishop McGrath celebrated the noon Mass today in St. Joseph Cathedral Basilica where he said, “We pray that the peace of Christ will be established in our hearts and in our nation.” |
