The statement of Bishop McGrattan on the murder of a Muslim family in London, Ontario was read by Fr. Adrian Martens in his position as Coordinator of Ecumenism and Inter-Religious affairs at a rally and peace march across City Hall, Tuesday evening, June 8, 2021.

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June 8, 2021
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
On June 6, 2021, a family out on a walk was targeted for their Islamic beliefs. This attack has resulted in the deaths of four family members including a girl as young as 15, and a nine-year old boy still in hospital.
 
This attack was truly heinous and against what we all stand for as Canadians.
 
Firstly, I want to express the closeness of the Catholic and Christian community to the Muslim community. Over the years, side-by-side, we have spoken out jointly on the Rohingya Muslim crisis and the terrible mosque shooting in Quebec. Again, today we stand with Muslims against all religious hatred or intolerance of religious belief and practise. We stand together to denounce all forms of fear, hatred, and aggression against any person based on religion, gender, or culture. As our teaching at the Second Vatican Council states: “…the right to religious freedom has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person as this dignity is known through the revealed word of God and by reason itself. This right of the human person to religious freedom is to be recognized in the constitutional law whereby society is governed and thus it is to become a civil right,” (Dignitatis Humanae, 2).
 
We, Muslims, Christians, and people of goodwill, must stand together to fight against intolerance and ignorance of religious belief or practise and protect this freedom which is a basic civil right.
 
May we continue to advance the great work we have done together with the Calgary Interfaith Council, Habitat for Humanity, Calgary Catholic Immigration Services, and other venues. May we be reminded that there are more things that unite us than what divides us and that we must stand together against hatred, violence, and religious intolerance.
 
Yours in God,
  
+William T. McGrattan
Bishop of Calgary

Download Letter in PDF
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Let us join in prayer:  

• For Muslims and others experiencing shock and grief over the murder of the family in London, Ontario, we pray to the Lord…
• For the protection of the right to religious freedom and an end to religious intolerance, discrimination, and persecution, we pray to the Lord…

We are praying for the victims of the explosions in three churches and three hotels over the Easter weekend in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Pope Francis issued an appeal for peace in Sri Lanka in his Easter message: "I wish to manifest my affectionate closeness to the Christian community there, hit while they were gathered in prayer, and to the victims of such cruel violence. I entrust to the Lord all those who have tragically died, and I pray for the injured who are suffering because of this dramatic event.” 

As an expression of our solidarity with the victims of the Sri Lanka bombing, to those who are injured and those who died, their families, and the community of Sri Lankans, let us pray:

• We pray for the victims of the violent attacks in Colombo, Sri Lanka. For those who lost their lives, may they find eternal peace in the arms of our heavenly Father. For those injured, those who lost their loved ones, or lost their sense of security, may they draw strength and peace from their faith in the risen Lord as they work to rebuild their lives. Help them to remain faithful, knowing that nothing can separate them from Your love. 
• For our world, that people and nations may work toward achieving lasting peace and harmony, and healing divisions caused by religious or ideological beliefs, and political differences.