These Religious Leaders Are Fed Up With GOP’s Thoughts And Prayers

Carol Kuruvilla
Updated
A cross commemorating the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School sits in a park in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 16, 2018. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters)
A cross commemorating the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School sits in a park in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 16, 2018. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters)

It’s now common for political leaders to offer their “thoughts and prayers” online after a mass shooting. The high school massacre in Parkland, Florida, this week proved to be no different.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) sent their prayers soon after news broke that a gunman had shot and killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday. President Donald Trump tweeted his “prayers and condolences” to the victims’ families.

From a spiritual perspective, there’s nothing wrong with thoughts and prayers. Prayer can be helpful and even transformative for a family going through the shock of a loved one’s untimely death. For congregations, prayer can offer comfort in times of unspeakable sorrow and often serve as the first step toward organizing a joint response.

But when political leaders’ prayers for the victims of gun violence aren’t followed by concrete steps toward ending that violence, some religious leaders say the spiritual gesture can feel like empty gestures ― especially when the prayers are coming from politicians who accept financial support from the National Rifle Association.

This week, a chorus of faith leaders from different religious backgrounds pointed out the hypocrisy of calling for prayer and then not following that up with action.

Read their reactions below:

Also on HuffPost

Students mourn during a community prayer vigil for victims of Wednesday's shooting.
Students mourn during a community prayer vigil for victims of Wednesday's shooting.
Mourners gather during a prayer vigil.
Mourners gather during a prayer vigil.
A woman breaks down with emotion during the vigil.
A woman breaks down with emotion during the vigil.
Vigil participants hold hands. 
Vigil participants hold hands. 
A mother tries to comfort her weeping daughter at the end of the vigil. 
A mother tries to comfort her weeping daughter at the end of the vigil. 
Mourners hug.
Mourners hug.
Alyssa Kramer, 16, gets a hug from her mother, Tonja Kramer. 
Alyssa Kramer, 16, gets a hug from her mother, Tonja Kramer. 
Daniel Journey, center, an 18-year-old senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, at the vigil. 
Daniel Journey, center, an 18-year-old senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, at the vigil. 
A student rests his head against his mother.
A student rests his head against his mother.
City, county and state officials release balloons in honor of the victims.
City, county and state officials release balloons in honor of the victims.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.