Archbishop offers prayers, support to Fort Hood victims

Washington D.C., Apr 3, 2014 / 16:21 pm

The Archbishop for the Military Services, as well as President Obama and Texas Gov. Rick Perry offered their condolences and prayers to the victims of a shooting at the Fort Hood army base, and their families.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services expressed his condolences April 3 for the families of those who lost loved ones in the shooting, and added that as "believers we also pray for the repose of the souls of the victims and the assailant."

He added that he has also been in contact with the priests serving at Fort Hood.

"The remedy for this senseless violence can only be found in a more profound respect for human life, a deeper concern for our neighbors, a willingness to listen rather than to shout, and a reduction in the glorification of violence by our society."

The shooting occurred April 2 at Fort Hood Army Base near Killeen, Texas. The shooter, later confirmed by Army Secretary John McHugh to be an Iraq War veteran, and was receiving psychiatric treatment on base. McHugh said during an April 3 press conference that the suspected shooter "had a clean record" and had "no major misbehaviors that we're yet aware of."

Four persons including the shooter were killed during the attack, and 16 were injured. The Army released an April 2 statement confirming a continuing investigation into the event.

This is the second shooting at the Texas base in five years, following a 2009 shooting which killed 13 and wounded 30 others.

"Today, Ft. Hood was once again stricken by tragedy," Perry said in an April 2 statement.

"Ft. Hood has proven its resilience before, and will again. Texas will support those efforts in any way we can, with any resources necessary. The thoughts and prayers of all Texans are with everyone affected by this tragedy."

Obama said in an April 2 news conference that the shooting was troubling, and "reopens the pain of what happened at Fort Hood five years ago."

"Obviously our thoughts and prayers were -- are with the entire community," he said, adding that "we are going to do everything we can to make sure that the community at Fort Hood has what it needs to deal with the current situation, but also any potential aftermath."

He declined further comment on the situation until further details are discovered, but said he "would just hope that everybody across the country is keeping the families and the community at Fort Hood in our thoughts and in our prayers."

"The folks there have sacrificed so much on behalf of our freedom," Obama stated. "Many of the people there have been on multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. They serve with valor; they serve with distinction. And when they're at their home base they need to feel safe."