US Bishops' President discusses rising above divisions after Trump attack

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"One thing that all of us can do is to remember and to promote the dignity of the human person. And to keep constantly in our minds the fact that even if someone disagrees with me, he or she is still created in the image and likeness of God..."

In an interview with Vatican News - Vatican Radio, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Archbishop of the US Military Services, made this point as he reflected on the assassination attempt of former US President Donald Trump at an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, calling "horrific" the event that occured "in what is supposed to be a democratic society."

The presumed attacker was immediately shot and killed by secret service agents. One spectator was killed in the attack, and two others were wounded. Trump was rushed to a local hospital with a bullet wound to his right ear and was later flown to New Jersey.

In the interview, Archbishop Broglio reflects on the episode, and offers words of faith and consolation, especially while looking ahead to the imminent Eucharistic Congress in the US as an opportunity to promote peace and reconciliation.

The attempted assassination was met with the condemnation of US President Joe Biden, Trump’s opponent in the upcoming election, and of leaders around the world. Since the attack, former President Trump seems to be ok after the bullet had grazed his ear, and since, has officially, named his vice-presidential running mate, J.D. Vance, as the Republic National Convention is underway this week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In a statement issued late Sunday morning, the Holy See expressed its "concern about last night's episode of violence, which wounds people and democracy, causing suffering and death." It reassured the Holy See is "united in the prayer of never prevail  the US bishops for America, for the victims, and for peace in the country, that the motives of the violent may never prevail...

First of all, what is your reaction to this tragedy that has afflicted the United States at the rally in Pennsylvania?

Well, certainly, my initial reaction is one of horror that violence would take place in what is supposed to be a democratic society, that we're not able to talk to one another. And obviously someone who was not well, but still, someone was able to make an attempt on President Trump's life. That's certainly very, very tragic.

And that reaction of horror and the fact that this could happen, what can be done to in some way prevent or work against this sort of situation? No one would have ever thought that it could have happened even from a security standpoint, and then this is where we're at.

Well, I think obviously, a technician would have to analyze what could be done from a security standpoint. But I think one thing that all of us can do is to remember and to promote the dignity of the human person. And to keep constantly in our minds the fact that even if someone disagrees with me, he or she is still created in the image and likeness of God. And therefore, as a dignity that I have to recognize and that I have to respect. I think if our society, and I'll just limit myself to the society in the United States, (that) if we were more aware of that, then we might be able to discuss as rational human beings, the problems and the disagreements that we have, and perhaps come to some solutions. But it's tragic that political discourse in this country has reached a point where people just shout at each other, and there's no space to listen to the other. And I think that's something that that Pope Francis has urged us constantly to recognize, this basic human dignity and to respect it in every way that we can.

And in your capacity as President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, what can Bishops do to cultivate this sort of peaceful dialogue or even coexistence among Americans?

Well, I think all of us in our diocese can certainly promote the importance of dialogue, the importance of respect for the other. Even our commitment to human life is based on this notion that the human person is worthy of our respect from the moment of conception until the moment of death. I think we have to be constant in that. One of the things that we're about to begin on Wednesday is the Eucharistic Congress. And I think that will be a great opportunity for us to promote dialogue and reconciliation. And also to remember that in Jesus Christ, we find our salvation, and we also find a way forward. Obviously in the person of Christ, we find a code of conduct and I think the more we do to promote that, the better off our society will be. We can't do it all by ourselves, but we can certainly lay a foundation and urge those that we're responsible for to promote this dignity and this dialogue.

And in the wake of this attack aimed at former President Trump and that killed an innocent bystander, what prayer or what words of comfort do you have to offer Archbishop?

Certainly, to the family of the gentleman who was killed, certainly, my sympathy and my condolences and my promise of a prayer for the repose of his soul. And also to those who were wounded, including former President Trump, a message of consolation and the assurance of my prayers, and assure the prayers of all of the faithful of the United States.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

This tragic event is really a call to action to all of us to measure our discourse and to move forward in pathways of peace and reconciliation and an honest assessment of whatever political differences there are and however we can work together to find solutions.

File photo of President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, with Pope Francis