WASHINGTON (April 22, 1999) -- American society "can turn away from a culture of violence—a culture of death—and towards life," said Los Angeles Archbishop, Cardinal Roger Mahony, chairman of the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Domestic Policy Committee.

In a statement released today titled, Our Hearts Cry: Not Again! Cardinal Mahony said that the "violence that haunts our nation reflects the breakdown of family and community life, the absence of spiritual roots, the loss of respect for life, the pervasiveness of violent images from the media, and the easy accessibility of guns and other weapons."

Cardinal Mahony's statement came in the wake of the April 20th school violence at Columbine High School, Littleton, Colorado, in which 14 students and one teacher died, including the two students who instigated the attacks.

Cardinal Mahony expressed the sympathy and prayers of the U.S. Catholic Bishops to the families of the dead and injured and to all those touched by the tragedy. He also expressed the solidarity of the Bishops with Archbishop Charles Chaput and the Church of Denver where Littleton is located.

Our Hearts Cry: Not Again!

A Statement by Cardinal Roger Mahony Archbishop of Los Angeles
Chairman, Domestic Policy Committee

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