From the Office of the Bishop: 

The BBC reported this morning at 8 am, EDT, that "Nine people have been shot dead at a historic African-American Church in Charleston, SC, and a hunt is under way for a white gunman. 

Police described the attack at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church as a 'hate crime.' 

They issued surveillance images of the suspect and said he had sat in the church for an hour before opening fire.

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Bishop Provenzano sends the following Pastoral Message to the clergy and members of the Diocese of Long Island: 

Prayer.  Deep, deep, soul-stirring prayer for the victims,  their families, their church community, the city of Charleston, and for this nation! 

Words can no longer suffice for the senseless hatred of this sinful act. Prayer and the witness of prayer by God's people must be our response. 

I call upon our Diocese to pray with each other across parish lines, and neighborhood lines, and county lines.

Hold each other in prayer and witness to the unity in Christ we profess. 

This is our response to hatred and sin.

The Right Reverend Lawrence C. Provenzano

Bishop of Long Island

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The following message is also from Bishop Provenzano:

    

Dear Faith Leaders, 

  

It is with a heavy heart I write this note to you this morning. Last night, it is reported that a gunman opened fire in the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC. Among the dead was the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who was also a state senator.  WE MUST RESPOND!!!

Yesterday, June 18th at 2:30 pm, Borough President Eric L. Adams, Clergy leaders, NYPD, and other law enforcement officials prayed for the victims, discussed the situation, and planed the next steps.  

   

We must respond!!!

   

Prayerfully, 

   

Pastor Gil

   

Pastor Gilford Monrose

Director, Faith-Based & Clergy Initiatives

Office of the Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams

208 Joralemon Street

Brooklyn, NY  11201 

T (718) 802-3761

C (718) 755-3418

Visit our website at www.brooklyn-usa.org