WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel N.
DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB), along with Bishop Oscar Cantú, of Las Cruces, Chair of
the Committee on International Justice and Peace, and Bishop Mitchell Rozanski,
of Springfield, Chair of the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious
Affairs, have issued the following statement on today’s
attack in the Old City of Jerusalem. The deadly
attack took place early this morning by the Lions’ Gate in the Old City walls,
next to what Muslims call the Noble Sanctuary and Jews call the Temple Mount.

Full statement follows:

On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops, we condemn in the strongest possible terms today’s attack in the Old
City of Jerusalem. It is a particular
desecration to carry out armed attacks in and around sites holy to Muslims and
Jews in a city that is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. We mourn for the lives lost and deplore the heightened
tensions that such an attack can spawn.
It was encouraging that both President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack.
The path to peace, for which both Israelis and Palestinians yearn,
cannot be paved with violence.

Cardinal
Daniel N. DiNardo
Archbishop
of Galveston-Houston
President,
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Most
Rev. Oscar Cantú
Bishop
of Las Cruces
Chairman,
Committee on International Justice and Peace

Most
Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski
Bishop
of Springfield
Chairman,
Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs

—

Keywords:
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Bishop
Oscar Cantú, Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, Old City Jerusalem, Temple Mount,
Noble Sanctuary, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Mahmoud Abbas,
Israelis, Palestinians, peace.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Judy Keane
202-541-3200

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops