A disturbed and evil man killed two children in cold blood, ages eight and ten, and injured 18 more people on Wednesday morning. As of this writing, at least a dozen remain hospitalized. This man’s targets were the students and parishioners of Annunciation Catholic school and church in Minneapolis — and while the students attended the first all-school Mass of the fall term. Police have identified the murderer, a 23-year-old man who petitioned the State of Minnesota to legally change his name in 2020 to match his self-proclaimed female identity. He turned his own weapons on himself in a final killing.
As news of the killer spread, many Democrats and trans activists reacted with fury at anybody who pointed out that he was transgender, belittling the faith of the Catholic students in the process. “Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community or any other community out there has lost their sense of common humanity,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared. Frey then dismissed anyone offering “thoughts and prayers right now.” When they were attacked, Frey thundered, “these kids were literally praying.” Yes, they were, which added to the horror of the crimes. In fact, the murderer’s video and written manifestos make clear that he targeted the Christian students specifically: “Where Is Your God?” he wrote sardonically in silver paint on one of his magazines.
Frey’s comments echo a common refrain of Democrats after every mass shooting. Frustrated by the roadblock that the U.S. Constitution and the American people pose to their anti-gun agenda, they have chosen to mock those who turn to prayer when confronted with unspeakable evil.
Jen Psaki, MSNBC host and former press secretary, blared on X, “Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does [sic] not end school shootings. [P]rayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.” California Governor Gavin Newsom posted, “These children were literally praying when they got shot at.”
Democrats’ dismissive attitude toward prayer is rooted in arrogance. It contains the condescending assumption that people of faith are like little children who think that prayer works like magic pixie dust to grant all of their heart’s desires. In times of tragedy, according to this crowd, people should find solace not in God, but in government.
In reality, praying does not preclude any sort of legislation, but even the best legislation — and the mockers of prayer are not spelling out what they want so its workability could be discussed — takes a significant amount of time to craft and pass. In the immediate aftermath of a horrific event, prayer can address pain in a way that legislation cannot. When people pray, they can find strength in the face of helplessness, wisdom at a time when nothing makes any sense, and comfort when the soul is being drawn into the abyss of grief.
Only a full investigation will provide a complete accounting of the shooting that will help inform any debate over what sort of policy response, if any, could have prevented this tragic event. But in the meantime, it is appropriate to pray for the victims and their families. Prayer is efficacious and ennobling. It was not in vain that the Psalmist declared that the Lord “healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”