Faith Leaders Launch ‘With One Voice’ Interfaith Coalition to End Gun Violence in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania faith leaders gathered last week at the State Capitol in Harrisburg to publicly launch With One Voice, a new interfaith coalition of more than 100 clergy, congregations and lay leaders, united by a shared moral call to end gun violence and save lives. Clergy representing multiple faith traditions came together for a prayer vigil, followed by a press conference urging lawmakers to take immediate action on proven gun violence prevention policies.

You can see a full list of coalition signers here. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pVEzDkCehvz5ILcTw1A_HTfPzxo2Bgh4/view?usp=sharing

United by love of the Commonwealth, bonded by faith, and committed to creating safe communities in which our congregants can grow and live without fear, With One Voice sets out to advocate for ample funding for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs in the PA Budget; Universal Background Checks; Extreme Risk Protection Orders (a red flag law), Secure Firearm Storage, Banning Ghost Guns and Machine Gun Conversion Devices and other laws shown to reduce gun deaths.

Rev. Martha Harris, the convenor of With One Voice, kicked off the event by describing the urgency of the moment, and the unique perspective of faith leaders. “As faith leaders, we deal with life and death issues all the time, from birth to burial, and from baptism to last rites,” she said. “As clergy, priests, pastors, rabbis, deacons, we know that we need to preserve precious life in any way we can, which includes taking action with our legislature, to make our communities safer with proven, effective policies and practices.”

Bishop Audrey Scanlan of the Episcopal Diocese of the Susquehanna put the issue in a national context. “Our country cries out for leadership right now, and here in our corner of America, we leaders of faith are working for safety and peace,” she began. She specifically called for more than $100 million for community violence intervention programs in the upcoming Pennsylvania budget, acknowledging that it’s a proven strategy for saving lives. Of the coalition’s future work, she quoted St. Augustine, “Pray like it’s up to God, and work like it’s all up to us.”

Rabbi Eric Mollo of Main Line Reform Temple shared that “Scripture teaches that leaders are obligated to take whatever steps necessary to ensure that the people in their charge are safe. And when they become endangered, they are to take steps to mitigate that danger. In Deuteronomy, we are commanded to build guardrails on our roofs, not after someone has fallen, but before someone falls because preventing harm is our sacred responsibility. Leaders are supposed to anticipate danger and act before tragedy strikes. Guardrails only work if we keep building them. Gun violence in Pennsylvania takes hundreds of lives each year, not only through mass shootings, but through daily acts of violence and suicides. Many of these deaths happen during moments of crisis, domestic disputes, mental health emergencies, and situations where time, distance, and intervention could have saved a life.”

Speaking on behalf of Bishop Hector Burgos-Nunez, Rev. Dr. Gary Weaver of the United Methodist Church shared his wishes for the interfaith work ahead. “We are grateful to stand with our interfaith partners and community advocates,” he said. “Lives are sacred, communities deserve safety, and the moral and spiritual cost of inaction are simply too high.”

Rabbi Ariana Capptauber, Beth El Temple, Harrisburg, called on scripture to describe the unfathomable impact of every life lost to gun violence. “Our ancient rabbis said that, ‘the first human was created alone to teach you that with regard to anyone who destroys one soul, or kills one person, it is as if he destroyed an entire world. Conversely, anyone who saves one life, it is as if he saved an entire world.’” Speaking of her previous work at a community violence intervention program, she continued, “I met some of these young people. I saw them graduate high school, go on to college, get jobs, become parents. I saw the worlds that they all became, all because they were given a chance.”

Continuing on the theme of action, Sister Donna Breslin of the Blessed Sacrament shared that many sisters have found themselves in the midst of gun violence in their various ministries across the United States. “We do believe that there is an answer, and it is right here in the capitol in Harrisburg, in this building. You have heard many speakers who spoke to the sacredness of life. It is our duty to bring the message to legislators tirelessly, every day, every week, every month. Our faith calls us to be men and women of action, on behalf of life.”

The group was also joined by Omar Muse, the Director of the Community Crisis Intervention Program at Eddie’s House, a community and violence intervention organization in Philadelphia. Eddie’s House and the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral have partnered on gun violence prevention programs in their community. To that, Omar said “We have to keep fighting the fight. Keep trying, keep fighting, and keep praying.”

“As faith leaders, we often feel powerless when violence occurs in our communities. Thoughts and prayers are not enough to address the epidemic of gun violence,” said Rev. Martha Harris, Rector of Saint Paul and Saint Luke Episcopal Churches in Lancaster County and Convenor of With One Voice. “With One Voice exists because silence is no longer an option. Our faith compels us to protect our communities, and that means calling on our elected leaders to act now.”