April 24, 2026

Dear friends in Christ,

We, the Episcopal Bishops of the state of Louisiana, grieve with you in the wake of the recent shootings in Shreveport and Baton Rouge, and give thanks for our law enforcement who successfully averted a potential attack in the city of New Orleans. Our hearts are broken for those who have died, for those who are wounded in body and spirit, and for the families and communities whose lives have been forever altered.

We give thanks for the swift work of law enforcement and first responders, whose courage and vigilance stand between life and further tragedy. At the same time, we cannot ignore the deep and persistent wound that gun violence inflicts upon our common life. This is not only a matter of public safety, but it is a moral and spiritual crisis that diminishes the dignity of every human being. For, as we profess, we are all created in the image of God.

As Episcopalians, we are grounded in the promise that in Christ, life conquers death, and love is stronger than fear. Yet that hope does not call us to silence or resignation. It calls us to prayer, to lament, and to action, constantly seeking the peace and justice that honor the sacredness of every life.

We commend the departed to God’s eternal care, pray for the healing of the wounded, and stand with all who mourn. May God grant us the courage to face this time with honesty, compassion, and resolve.

Faithfully,

+Jake and +Shannon

The Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana

The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana