Seacoast Clergy: We Mourn the Loss of Innocent Souls

PORTSMOUTH, NH - On Thursday evening, July 14, 2016, Nice, France, became the location of yet, another mass murder.

This following recent mass tragedies in Dallas, Turkey, Baghdad and Orlando. Words cannot sufficiently describe the profound grief of the human family. We mourn the loss of innocent souls and pray for the recovery of those who are injured.

Submitted by Rabbi David Ross Senter

The motivations of the attacker are, as of yet, unknown. History proves that evil and madness are never self-contained. Quite often such heinous acts lead to divisiveness within the human family. This is the most tragic outcome possible.

The antidote for hatred is mutual understanding. Each of our respective traditions teaches that the world began with the creation of one family that grew into many families and nations. We come together as Christians, Baha'I, Muslims, Jews and Unitarian Universalists. We come together as cousins within the human family to eradicate the hatred that turns us against each other.

The spiritual leaders of seacoast faith communities are dedicated to interfaith understanding. We strive to celebrate common values and respect the uniqueness of our respective traditions. We believe that fostering such understanding will help eliminate the hatred and bigotry that fosters violence within the family. We firmly believe that hatred and bigotry are the result of ignorance. We strive to see the sacred spark in each other. May our religious observances help us understand that we show the ultimate respect for God when we respect each other.

Ministerium - Seacoast Interfaith Clergy Association
Reverend Robert Fellows
Community Congregational Church (UCC), Greenland
Reverend Fr. Gary Belliveau
Corpus Christi Parish (RC) - Portsmouth
Reverend Arthur L. Hilson
New Hope Baptist Church - Portsmouth
Imam Mohamed Ibrahim
Islamic Society of the Seacoast Area - Dover
Reverend Chris Jablonski
South Church (UU) - Portsmouth
Reverend Phil Johnson
Seventh Day Adventist Church - Portsmouth
Chaplain Elissa Kaplan Senter
Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Dr Paris Khavari
Baha'i Community
Reverend Rev Carolyn H Keilig
North Church (UCC) - Portsmouth
Reverend Jeffrey McIlwain
North Star AME Zion Church - Newington
Reverend Dr. Steve Notis,
Hampton United Methodist Church
Reverend David 'Chip' Robinson
Christ Episcopal Church - Portsmouth
Trinity Episcopal Church - Hampton
Reverend Nancy Rockwell
Newington Town Church, UCC.
Rabbi David Ross Senter
Temple Israel - Portsmouth
Reverend Lauren Smith
South Church (UU) - Portsmouth
Reverend Robert E. Stevens, Jr.
St. John's Episcopal Church - Portsmouth
Reverend Betsy Webber
First United Methodist Church - Portsmouth
Reverend Anne Williamson
St. John's Episcopal Church - Portsmouth