Places of worship and faith-based groups across the nation will take part in Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend to remember those who have lost their lives to gunfire, to pray for those whose lives have been changed because of the loss of a loved one, and to continue the discussion on how faith communities can work together to reduce gun violence. Events will be held from March 13–16. The Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend is a joint project of the Washington National Cathedral and Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, a coalition of about 50 national denominations and faith-based organizations including CHA.
The national kickoff event will be held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on the evening of Thursday, March 13. From Friday, March 14, through Sunday, March 16, places of worship throughout the country will participate through prayer services, vigils, education events and news conferences to raise community awareness. Members of congregations may commit to fast or to perform acts of kindness.
Vincent DeMarco, national coordinator of Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, said faith groups are deciding for themselves how they want to mark the Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend. "Faith leaders across the country will tell you that saving lives from gun violence is a moral issue, and faith leaders are committed to making it happen," DeMarco said.
He said faith leaders play an important part in helping to reduce gun violence. When they speak on such issues, they provide moral authority. Faith leaders are able to reach people at a grassroots level and the involvement of faith communities can draw media attention to the issue. The involvement of leaders across faith traditions represents the diversity of those who are committed to work to prevent gun violence, DeMarco said.
Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence formed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2011, as a coalition to confront the nation's gun violence epidemic and to rally support for policies that reduce death and injury from gunfire.
The group has grown and continued its efforts since then. For instance, in December 2013, members of the coalition including CHA President and Chief Executive Officer Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, signed a letter to members of Congress; it urged the passage of proposed legislation "to expand gun background checks to gun shows, internet sales and commercial sales. These proposals are widely supported by the public. And research demonstrates that in the 16 states and Washington, D.C., that already require background checks for private sales, gun trafficking is 48 percent lower, the rate at which women are killed with a gun by an intimate partner is 38 percent lower, and the gun suicide rate is 49 percent lower," according to the letter signed by members of Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence.
Resources for Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend
- More information about the weekend can be found online at marchsabbath.org.
- Resources on the website are provided by faith organizations to help groups plan a prayer service, a moment of reflection or a call to action. People also can log onto the website to pledge their participation in a Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend event.
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