The Catholic response to evil must begin with prayer, but it cannot end there. In the wake of Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Catholics across the country are grieving and grappling with powerful emotions.
Fr. Mike Schmitz, the popular priest behind “Bible in a Year,” reminded the faithful that “the proper human response to evil is anger,” according to LifeSiteNews. He told Megyn Kelly that he was praying for Kirk’s family and friends, acknowledging the pain many feel as they try to process the shocking loss.
“We live in a broken world,” he said. “God is good,” but humanity’s misuse of freedom often unleashes suffering and tragedy, according to LifeSiteNews.
Kelly, fighting back tears, admitted she felt “deep, deep anger” over the murder. “That’s not a healthy emotion. It’s not something you should stay mired in,” she said, yet millions of others feel the same way.
Fr. Schmitz reassured her, and Catholics everywhere, that such anger is not sinful when directed rightly. “There were times when Jesus saw injustice, where Jesus saw evil … He was angry,” he explained, pointing to Scripture as a model for righteous anger.
He also warned that anger must not turn into bitterness: “Anger can be a positive emotion. Sometimes you need to fight for the right thing … We can’t afford to go into resentment, but we have to know how to choose what to do with our anger,” according to LifeSiteNews.
For Catholics, that means prayer, fasting, and action rooted in the Gospel. “We fight through debate,” Fr. Schmitz said, echoing Kirk’s own commitment to dialogue on college campuses rather than violence, according to LifeSiteNews.
Authorities confirmed that a suspect is in custody. Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that Tyler Robinson, 22, was turned in by his father after reportedly admitting to the killing. Robinson allegedly criticized Kirk’s views as “spreading hate” and “full of hate” in a conversation prior to the attack (according to LifeSiteNews).
Charlie Kirk, a husband and father, was known for mobilizing young people to stand for conservative and pro-life values. His death leaves a deep wound, but as Fr. Schmitz reminds us, Catholics are called to transform anger into a force for good.
This moment challenges us not to retreat into despair or resentment but to defend the truth with courage, pray for the conversion of sinners, and intercede for Kirk’s family as they mourn a man who was willing to “fight for the right thing.”
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How Mother Mary over come her anger of the death of her Son?
Mary knew ahead of time what would happen, what would have to happen. Jesus had been telling his apostles but they didnt understand but Mary knew without a doubt that God was in control. Mary knew she would see him in three days no matter His horrifying departure.
I am against the death penalty. However after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, I was glad the death penalty was an option in Utah. Then at Mass on Sunday, I was explaining my thoughts on Kirk’s killing. This wise woman responded: “You know St. Paul killed hundreds of Christians. The he converted to Christianity. Prayer for the assassin’s conversion.
Maybe an appropriate sentence for the assasin would be life in prison with the requirement that he watch one or more Charlie Kirk videos every day
Christians should recognize righteous anger at evil. In Western Civilization we have come to worship “free speech.” But words have consequences. I don’t claim to have the answer as to how to root out those advocating evil. I do know as Christians we should prosecute evil into oblivion with whatever means are legal.
Enabling Evil through inaction and timidity is a Spiritual sin and a civil deficit. As Citizens we are obligated to enforce the Laws against evil i.e. criminal activity. Failure to do so encourages evil to spread.
The Law needs to facilitate this. To HAMMER civil authorities to do this a Christian and a Citizen duty.
To paraphrase: “Evil Triumphs when good men do nothing.”
Charlie Kirk shared conservative and pro-life values and that was very good however,
Charlie Kirk also was leaning toward Christian Nationalism and that is dangerous.
We are in very dangerous times. Tyler Robinson was brought up with conservative values but he was from a gun loving family- (dangerous)
According to news reports: Robinson thought that Charlie Kirk was not conservative enough.
Regarding the death penalty for Robinson: Killing is wrong no matter what! (except in self-defense or war to defend one’s country.)
I’m angry that Charlie Kirk was killed. I was also angry about some of what He said. Some of it
was misquoted but most of it missed what Jesus did, What Jesus said.
Most current news reports say the suspect, Tyler Robinson, may have been motivated by political and ideological opposition to Charlie Kirk’s conservative views. Like, against those views!
They also report Robinson had expressed anger at hate he perceived in Kirk’s rhetoric, had become radicalized (in part through online communities), and had drafted messages saying things like “I had enough of his hate. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Nice try but you are wrong across the board
All you are doing is parroting liberal communst talking points.
Look up about what happens to Catholics that become communists
Catholics cannot be Democrats either.
We cannot align ourselves with a party that pushes everything God is against.
Same as if they become freemasons or perform abortions
Th word you are looking for starts with an e.
He did not like Charlie Kirk’s comments about LBGT…,
Family values, gender manipulations, pro -life.
That man was NOT a conservative at all.
This young man was indoctrinated by all the crap on TV.
Guns are NOT the problem
Nice try but you are wrong a cross the board
All you are doing is parroting liberal community most talking points.
Look up about what happens to Catholics that become communists
Catholics cannot be Democrats. Cannot align ourselves with a party that pushes everything Goe is against.
Same as if they become masons or perform abortions
Th word you are looking for starts with an e.
Robinson was left wing radicalized. He never thought Kirk wasn’t conservative enough!!!
You say he was a man who was willing to “fight for the right thing.” He fought for increased use of the death penalty, public executions and the death sentence to be extended to minors. Is that the right thing to fight for in the eyes of the Catholic Church? He also espoused other views about, for example, the poor and vulnerable people, that are at odds with Catholic social teaching. God rest his soul, he did not deserve this fate, but please tell the full truth about him.
You must not know the truth. You seem to be quoting very small snippets taken out of context. That’s unfortunate because if you watched full debates, you’d see he’s completely dedicated to Christian faith!
You’re right to ask for the whole truth about Kirk. I am just learning about him and there is a lot of conflicting information. It hasn’t escaped my notice that there’s a trend among these charismatic activists (and news personalities, and some evangelists) of having walked away from education at an early age. With no marketable skills, they promote themselves as having what vulnerable people want and need. They are eager to suggest radical principles and policies and gain influence. It’s a business for them; a way to become rich and famous. As a Catholic I find their demeanor and tactics unethical, even though I may agree that abortion is a sin, family values are important, drugs are a scourge, and criminal behavior deserves punishment. I draw the line when they promote solutions to those problems by means of violence against people they perceive as enemies, persecute the innocent, use power to intimidate and limit others’ rights. The end still doesn’t justify the means.
He also made many racist statements.
Please list some
ANGER is one of the seven deadly SINS. The lamentable way in which Kirk died does not white-wash the repulsive notions he publicly espoused while alive. Basically, he was a young, naive, empty headed, fast talking loud-mouth who willingly let himself become the simple tool of wealthy ultra-rightist bigots because it satisfied his childish desire for attention.
Excuse me what? The killer from.a conservative family had a transgender roommate. I would safely say he was anti conservative..hence the assassination of a man who believed in God,Family, and Country. The truth will set you free and in this case it was through martyrdom. By a deranged leftist. Be real.
Young, naive, fast talker, thrives for attention? Wow. You sound like your bitter because he was young brilliant minded , self educated young man, with moral values, that could articulate his speech and thoughts quickly. More importantly a man that respected and feared God. Let me guess you are an older college professor?
Unfortunately some priest have Catholic doctrine all wrong. I doubt Jesus would agree with Fr. McMahon. Right to life is from birth to natural death, no exception. It is not just the one issue on abortion.
Even the devil knows Scripture.
I’ve heard his name once or twice in the mainstream media which I follow closely but knew almost nothing about Charlie Kirk or his campus activism until after he was so brutally assassinated.
Terrible. But how come many Catholics are so enamored with his white nationalist beliefs? That’s very disturbing. And how can anyone be pro life and pro death penalty?
That’s not the Catholic teaching.
We should all agree Jesus is about love, peace and mercy. He was about lifting up the poor, the stranger. He is pro diversity; pro inclusion.
It’s a no brainer. Read the gospel.
Don’t shoot guns; don’t be violent.
We can be righteously angry with a situation or sin but not with someONE. Jesus was clear on that point. Why? Because anger leads to violence and retribution. This is why prayer is so important. It allows us to be united to God’s will and His infinite mercy and love.
Thank you so very much Father Schmitz None of our Catholic Churches have even mentioned Charlie. And I really appreciate your kind words. A couple of my grandchildren have listened to Charlie and it has really helped them find their way back to Christ and Catholicism. We are all trying to save the world from evil to the goodness of God And he has helped our youth more than anyone in many years. And I am so sad that the Catholic Church is afraid to even acknowledge that.