Letter to the Editor: Love will overpower hate

An open letter to the greater Orlando community

As we here in Orlando and our greater society faces the massive and violent assault on human life in Pulse on Sunday, St. Dorothy Catholic Community, an Independent Catholic Community not affiliated with the Diocese of Orlando, offers our community’s prayers and solidarity with the LGBT community and the families and friends of the victims of this senseless act. At this time our prayers are also with all the other faith traditions, the wider community of Orlando, and for our country, once again confronted by the face of hatred expressed through gun violence.

Still another lament about the prevalence of guns throughout our society seems a pale response to the horror of the attack on the LGBT community. With each repeated occurrence of mass shootings, it appears increasingly clear that any hope for thwarting these tragedies must begin with more effective legislation and enforcement of who has access to guns and under what conditions. However, legislation alone will not be sufficient as there are wider and deeper forces at work in these attacks. These are forces that no type of legislation can repair or correct.

The United States proudly upholds its longstanding tradition of being open and welcoming to those in need of a safe haven. In our elementary school social studies lessons we were taught that the United States is the “melting pot” of many cultures and traditions. Both sets of my grandparents are examples of this immigrating from Portugal. Our country has greatly benefited and continues to benefit from human creativity and achievement cultivated without distinction of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, nationality or any other differentiating characteristic.

From a multitude of differences we have sought unity. Our own motto of the United States that is found on the great seal of our country states: e pluribus unum (out of many one). We must meet the challenges of combining freedom, pluralism and unity in our increasingly diverse society if the United States is to continue to be a beacon of hope to the world.

We must address those deep and dark forces that that threaten our well-being and thwarts us in achieving the unity, the e pluribus unum, which promotes peaceful and loving coexistence for all. In every part of our lives, in every sector of our society we must be vigilant of and ponder on how we speak and think about those who may be different from us in any way shape, form or fashion. We cannot allow ourselves to be defeated by the worst instincts in human nature, by these forces that come to divide us based on our differences or by an immobilizing fear.

We will not be defeated by those who wish to break us. Resistance is necessary; resolution is imperative. The resources to resist and the courage of determination are on display everyday in our country. The OPD who risked their lives in the midst of the assault on Sunday, the first responders and the friends at each other's side in the midst of the terror, symbolize the kind of generosity of spirit, which makes our country great.

In many of the vigils we have heard that love will overpower the forces of those who wish to divide and assault us. At St. Dorothy Catholic Community our motto is “Love Without Judgment.” It is not just a cutesy motto but something we strive to live on a daily basis. All of us, regardless of our faith persuasion or no faith persuasion must be the examples and ambassadors of that love on a daily basis to truly pay true honor to those 49-plus martyrs. I do not use the term martyrs loosely. The definition of a martyr is one who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle, or cause. The 49 who are with their creator and the remaining ones in ORMC and Florida Hospital were assaulted for their belief of going to Pulse that was their home, a place where they could be themselves and enjoy and celebrate their lives only to be violated by the hatred of one person.

Together let us go forward with the commitment to work for the meaningful change that will help our Orlando LGBT/Latino community and all communities to live in safety and peace.

The priests of St. Dorothy Catholic Community in Orlando are here to assist any of the families at this most difficult time.

Sincerely,

Father James F. Profirio-Bond, Pastor

Father Anthony Borka, Pastor Emeritus

www.stdorothycatholiccommunity.org