Mockers are back after murderous rampage on Catholic school

After yet another murderous rampage by an armed attacker upon a school, the mockers are back. But the mockers aren’t scoffing at deranged individuals bent upon evil. Their contempt is aimed at Christians who express sympathy and offer prayers for the victims and their families.

The murder of two children and the injury of many others at the Annunciation Catholic School rightly stirred strong emotions nationwide. Violence is never welcome, and violence against children is especially egregious. For Christians who express their emotions in light of God’s providential oversight of the world, an offering of prayer is not out of bounds. In the vein of saying, “I’m sorry for your loss,” to someone who has had a death in the family, you’ll nearly always — and quite appropriately — find Christians offering to keep victims of violence in their thoughts and prayers.

For some reason, this gets under the skin of many. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) launched the first volley, saying at a press conference, “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying – it was the first week of school, they were in a church.” From there, the now-familiar “thoughts and prayers” sneering snowballed. The discussion really got heated when former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki posted on X, “Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does not end school shootings. Prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.” When current White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rebuked her predecessor’s glib remarks, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) got in on the game, posting, “These children were literally praying as they got shot at.”

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