Flowers at a fence outside the King Soopers in Boulder, Colorado where a gunman opened fire on March 23, 2021. / Credit: Chet Strange/Getty Images
Boulder, Colorado, Mar 23, 2021 / 02:23 pm (CNA).- Archbishop Samuel Aquila said he is “deeply saddened” by a mass shooting in northern Colorado early this week, and called for conversion of hearts to eradicate violence from society.
“I have been praying for all those impacted by this senseless act of violence and want to express my spiritual closeness to them,” Aquila said in a statement Tuesday.
On Monday, a gunman opened fire at a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, killing 10 people.
One of the victims was police officer Eric Talley, 51, who was among the first to respond to the shooting. Talley, a Catholic, leaves behind a wife and seven children.
Aquila said that Talley “has been described as a man of character and strong faith, a loving father to seven children, a husband who cared deeply for his family, and a soldier for Christ.”
He added that “Officer Talley regularly stopped by St. Martin de Porres [Parish] in Boulder and participated in its events, even though he wasn’t a parishioner there.”
“St. Martin de Porres, the patron of the parish, was someone who experienced tragedy and hardship in his life, and so, we ask for his intercession in these difficult circumstances, that God would bring good out of this great evil,” the archbishop said, promising prayers for Talley’s family.
A funeral for Talley will be celebrated on Monday, March 29 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver. It will be a solemn high Mass offered in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, according to an announcement, which added that capacity may be restricted due to COVID-19 regulations.
Police have arrested 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa in connection with Monday’s shooting, and he has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder, Boulder Police said. Officials have not discussed a possible motive for the shooting.
The suspect’s family members say they believe him to be suffering from serious mental illness, including paranoia and delusions, according to media reports.
The Boulder shooting comes less than a week after a gunman in Atlanta killed eight people – including six Asian women – during a series of shootings at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area on March 16.
In his statement, Aquila said that “incidents like this have become far too common in our country and our state.”
“We must work to promote deeper conversion of hearts so that our lives are characterized by the virtue of charity, which allows us to love God and our neighbor, strengthening the fabric of society and preventing senseless acts of violence such as this one.”
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Raymond Cardinal Burke in Rome, Oct. 14, 2019. / Daniel Ibanez/CNA
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 20, 2021 / 17:22 pm (CNA).
Prayers for Raymond Cardinal Burke continue to pour in amid unconfirmed reports that his condition is improving. “I… […]
Fr. Richard Cassidy, professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, dresses in Roman prisoner garb as he holds a copy of his newest book, “A Roman Commentary on St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians.” Fr. Cassidy’s eighth scholarly work, the book explores the subversive nature of St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, which the apostle wrote from behind bars in a Roman prison cell. / Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic
Detroit, Mich., Apr 30, 2022 / 08:00 am (CNA).
It was a tough decision for Rick Cassidy as he began graduate studies at the University of Michigan in mid-1960s. Would he take the course on Imperial Rome, because of his love of history, or the course History of Slavery, because of his deep concern for social justice?
The Dearborn native chose the course on slavery. The insights he acquired have helped to guide Fr. Richard Cassidy’s scholarly work for three decades, including his latest work, “A Roman Commentary on St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians“ (Herder & Herder, 2020).
Paul’s letter, composed in chains and secreted out of his Roman jail cell, is intentionally “counter-slavery” argues Father Cassidy, professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary since 2004, as well as “counter-emperor.” At its core, Philippians is an underground epistle that subverts the Roman power structure and the “lordship pretensions of Nero.” Reviewers praise the “distinctive thesis” of Father’s groundbreaking work as “fresh and illuminating,” making for “fascinating reading.”
This is Father Cassidy’s seventh book that examines the influence of Roman rule on the writers of the New Testament, and his eighth book overall. He returned to Ann Arbor on a rainy afternoon in late June to discuss his newest work.
Dan Gallio: St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians is most known for its soaring declaration of the divinity Christ, before whom one day “every knee must bend,” and “every tongue proclaim” his universal lordship (2:6-11).
Your new book presents a unique argument: Paul’s letter is primarily a “subversive” document of resistance against the Roman Empire—particularly against emperor worship and slavery. How did you arrive at this against-the-grain interpretation?
“A Roman Commentary on St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians” (Herder & Herder, 2020) is Fr. Cassidy’s eighth book and a follow-up on his 2001 work, “Paul in Chains: Roman Imprisonment and the Letters of St. Paul”. Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic
Father Cassidy: These insights were the result of long hours with the text, spending a lot of prayer time for guidance, as to Paul’s situation.
The issue of slavery came into play strongly. I now saw that Jesus was executed as a violator of Roman sovereignty, condemned by Pilate, executed under Emperor Tiberius—and that this was the slave’s form of death. This is a crucial point.
In regards to the two topics you mention, I had the intuition that the Letter to the Philippians was “counter-emperor cult” and “counter-slavery.” First, the self emptying of Christ from on high—descending downward into human form, downward, downward to the point of the slave’s death on a Roman cross—and then you have St. Paul’s wonderful words in chapter 2, verses 9-11.
My insight was that there is going to be a redressing of what has happened. Because of the great faithfulness of Jesus Christ, the Father intervenes and begins the lifting up, the ascending of Christ, where the Father exalts Jesus and bestows upon him “the name above every other name.”
So I can now speak about this famous passage in terms of a kind of “drama”: four scenes that represent the descent of Jesus, and four scenes that represent his ascent, akin to a medieval passion play. The Father intervenes on Christ’s behalf, conferring upon him the name of “Lord.” Now all of creation, including the emperor, the governor, the imperial personnel, are all subject to Jesus. They have to prostrate themselves before the name of Jesus.
DG: So, essentially, Philippians is subversive because it makes a political statement as much as a theological one.
FC: Yes, but for some, it is a great privilege to genuflect at the name of Jesus. This includes slaves! Paul had integrated slaves into his community in Philippi. They were empowered now to proclaim the name of Jesus, standing alongside free men and women. They are standing alongside the Roman imperial power structure, all involved in the same process of bowing before Christ and proclaiming his name.
A security guard at Sacred Heart Major Seminary helps Fr. Cassidy don his “prisoner’s clothing” for a photo shoot promoting Fr. Cassidy’s latest book, “A Roman Commentary on St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians,” which details Paul’s experience behind bars and the conditions under which he wrote his Letter to the Philippians. Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic
And that name is “Lord.” Jesus is being acclaimed as Lord, and not the emperor, to the glory of God the Father. This is the decisive element of Philippians 2:6-11, blended together in this one passage.
DG: You provide a forty-four-page introduction to the social situation of the Roman colony of Philippi. Why did you feel such an informative but lengthy introduction was necessary to support your thesis?
FC: I had to establish that conditions at Philippi mirror conditions at Rome. This is important. Philippi was like “Little Rome.” When Paul is speaking of conditions at Philippi, his is also experiencing the same oppressive conditions at Rome as a chained prisoner. I had to establish that emperor worship was everywhere, in Philippi’s renowned amphitheater, in the streets, in public artifacts. That is why I had to go into an extensive introduction to set the stage of what Paul is doing in his letter.
DG: Your appendices are extensive, too, like bookends to the introduction, driving the thesis home again using illustrations.
FC: There is one illustration of a monument where slaves are chained, and a slave trader is proclaiming his prowess as a slave trader. This monument to the degradation of slavery was at a city adjacent to Philippi. Paul almost certainly passed by it on his way to and from Philippi. It was discovered back in the 1930s and almost destroyed in the war by Nazi bombings.
DG: Paul is sometimes criticized by revisionist commentators for not rejecting the institution of slavery in his letters. Is your book an answer to these critics?
FC: Paul’s approach to slavery is complicated. There are some letters where he seems to envision the imminent return of Christ. Possibly he minimized the importance of slaves being freed in these letters. However, in Philippians, his final letter before his death, he addresses the issue definitively. It is very undermining of slavery.
I intended to de-establish the idea that Paul acquiesced to slavery. He did not acquiesce. The laudatory prepublication comments by scholars make me think the book will have a decisive role in re-imaging Paul.
Against a prevailing notion that St. Paul “acquiesced” to the idea of slavery in his writings, Fr. Cassidy’s book aims to counter the idea by showing how St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians actually served a subversive purpose in a Roman empire dominated by emperor worship and tight controls. Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic
DG: Back to Philippians 2:6-11. Why do you maintain this passage is not a hymn or baptismal catechesis, as is customarily believed, but is an original composition of Paul? Is this position another example of your counter exegesis?
FC: This is not some other preexisting hymn. No! This is fresh imaging. Visceral imaging. This is intensity from identifying with Christ as the “slave crucified.” No one else could have composed this passage. And Paul could not have composed this passage until he was in Roman chains and could see the threat posed against Jesus by the counterfeit claims that Emperor Nero is Lord.
DG: It’s almost like the passage is “supra-inspired,” that he would get such an original insight while in such dreadful circumstances.
FC: Correct. And there is a real question as to how this letter could be transmitted from prison, with the security and censorship. In garments? In pottery? It is possible the original written letter was confiscated. So how is Paul is getting his subversive thoughts past the Roman guards?
I suggest in my book that Paul was drilling his associates, Timothy and Epaphroditus, to memorize his letter, given the role of memory in early Christian life.
DG: With your busy teaching and pastoral duties, where to you find the motivation and energy to produce such a thoroughly researched, and beautifully written, work of scholarship?
FC: It’s Spirit driven!
DG: Is the Spirit driving you to another book?
FC: I would say so. After a book comes to publication, there is always a kind of mellowing period. So right now I have not identified the next project. I am appreciating the graces I have received from this book, and trusting that the same Spirit who has shepherded me through this sequence will still stand by me, guiding me forward.
Jesus the Christ declared:”For out of the heart come evil thoughts–murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.(Matthew 15:19) One of God’s Moral Laws is “You shall not murder”. As our cultural/society continues to morally decline we can expect more violence…guns, knifes,hatred,prejudice, sexual immoralities/perversions, and slander against one another to increase.
My friend, gun control is not the answer. No matter how many gun regulation laws you pass, it still up the individual to determine whether or not mass shootings occur. People with evil intentions will always find a way to inflict harm on others. What really needs reforming are the morals of the American people: not a further restriction of the right to bear arms.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest In Peace. Amen
Despite there being no evidence to suggest that racial animus motivated the Atlanta murders, as even the FBI admits, bishops did not hesitate to imply that it was a factor. On the other hand, in the Boulder case, there is plenty that points to the perpetrator being a resentful Islamist who hated Americans, yet Archbishop Aquila won’t bring it up. If the shooter is white, attribute the act of violence to racism even if the victims are white or there is little proof of such animus. If the shooter is not white, still blame white racism, prattle on about the need for gun control or increased mental healthcare services or deplore the generic violence of American society. One must know what the talking points are depending on the circumstances. The US bishops have it down pat!
I first learned about the killing of Officer Jeff Talley from the website ODMP.org (stands for Officer Down Memorial Page). One detail included there and not mentioned in other articles about the killing spree was that Officer Talley’s parents are still alive. My heart goes out to his wife and seven children, but most of all to his parents. It is against the law of nature that parents outlive their children. I cannot imagine their grief. To donate to his family, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundraiser-officer-eric-talleys-surviving-family. May he rest in peace.
Platitudes that are true and worth heeding — but have proved to be an inadequate response over the years and decades.
The archbishop needs to take a solid, no-nonsense, vocal stand on gun control, also.
Jesus the Christ declared:”For out of the heart come evil thoughts–murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.(Matthew 15:19) One of God’s Moral Laws is “You shall not murder”. As our cultural/society continues to morally decline we can expect more violence…guns, knifes,hatred,prejudice, sexual immoralities/perversions, and slander against one another to increase.
My friend, gun control is not the answer. No matter how many gun regulation laws you pass, it still up the individual to determine whether or not mass shootings occur. People with evil intentions will always find a way to inflict harm on others. What really needs reforming are the morals of the American people: not a further restriction of the right to bear arms.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest In Peace. Amen
Despite there being no evidence to suggest that racial animus motivated the Atlanta murders, as even the FBI admits, bishops did not hesitate to imply that it was a factor. On the other hand, in the Boulder case, there is plenty that points to the perpetrator being a resentful Islamist who hated Americans, yet Archbishop Aquila won’t bring it up. If the shooter is white, attribute the act of violence to racism even if the victims are white or there is little proof of such animus. If the shooter is not white, still blame white racism, prattle on about the need for gun control or increased mental healthcare services or deplore the generic violence of American society. One must know what the talking points are depending on the circumstances. The US bishops have it down pat!
I first learned about the killing of Officer Jeff Talley from the website ODMP.org (stands for Officer Down Memorial Page). One detail included there and not mentioned in other articles about the killing spree was that Officer Talley’s parents are still alive. My heart goes out to his wife and seven children, but most of all to his parents. It is against the law of nature that parents outlive their children. I cannot imagine their grief. To donate to his family, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundraiser-officer-eric-talleys-surviving-family. May he rest in peace.