Nuns Against Gun Violence
December 22, 2023
This article appears in the November Issue of Reflections and Connections
In 2002, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes released a statement of belief on peace and nonviolence. The 14-point statement included numerous calls to participate in public discourse and legislative action to promote peace and nonviolence. With that statement in mind, the congregation made another commitment to nonviolence by joining Nuns Against Gun Violence, a coalition of more than 60 congregations of Catholic sisters and their allies throughout the US.
Founded in April 2023, Nuns Against Gun Violence meets bi-weekly to discuss advocacy efforts and with the mission to affirm the value of human life through prayer, education, and advocacy for common sense, evidence-based, gun violence prevention.
As part of this effort, Tracy Abler, CSA’s Justice Coordinator, joined with other anti-violence action groups on September 21, 2023, in Madison, Wisconsin, for Gun Violence Prevention Day of Action. During the morning, legislators heard from experts and advocates who shared grim statistics regarding the constant and rapid increase in gun violence and deaths during the past three years. That afternoon, attendees met with legislative staffers to discuss five bills waiting to be brought to the floor.
In addition to advocacy, the congregation continues to pray for peace during their annual Peace Tree ceremony and throughout the month of December as individual sisters and associates join local vigils and events held each year to mark the anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting.
There are many ways for you to join the effort against gun violence:
- Host a prayer vigil using the “Lifting Our Light in the Darkness” service provided by Nuns Against Gun Violence
- Take time to become familiar with legislative bills in your state and call your state senators and representatives to demand they take the time to thoroughly read, understand, and support these life-saving policies.
- Pray a novena for peace during the advent season
- Sign up as an ally of Nuns Against Gun Violence or another peace building organization.
By uniting our voices and prayers, we can make an impact on the gun violence crisis.