Official Statement From Mormon Women for Ethical Government on the Tragic Religious Persecution and Violence in Christchurch, New Zealand

March 15, 2019

Less than six months ago, we mourned the tragic deaths of our sisters and brothers of the Jewish faith whose lives were taken at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Today, our hearts are broken again by the loss of more of God’s children due to hatred and prejudice–our sisters and brothers of the Muslim faith in Christchurch, New Zealand. We are pained that we must repeat our same expression of deepest sorrow, anguish, and righteous indignation on behalf of those whose lives have been lost or threatened, as well as their families and loved ones. In civil society, there is absolutely no place for racial, religious, nationalist, political, or any other form of identity-based hatred or violence.

We continue to sound the alarms about the very real danger and cost of reckless rhetoric. Words spoken at rallies and over podiums and airwaves should be both chosen and judged based on how they affect those most susceptible to violent tendencies. We must elevate our public discourse and guard against those who insist upon stoking the flames of hatred and discontent for their own advantage. Words that incite violence cannot be unspoken. We call again for an end to such carelessness.

Our current political climate is both a cause and effect of serious societal sickness. Each one of us can and must be responsible for curing these ills within our own hearts, homes, and communities. We urge peace-loving people throughout the world to be bolder in opposition to hatred. We pray for the divine assistance and collective courage to put aside whatever differences would divide us and work together in forging a new path toward unity, toward justice, toward humility, toward love.

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Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to the ideals of decency, honor, accountability, transparency, and justice in governing. MWEG is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We do, however, fully sustain the leaders and doctrines of the Church.

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