Statement on the Annunciation School Shooting

COLUMBUS–On Wednesday, a man who identified as a woman opened fire on a group of students and parishioners attending Mass in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two students, ages 8 and 10, were killed in the attack, and 17 people, including 14 children, were wounded.

FBI Director Kash Patel is investigating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and as an anti-Catholic hate crime. This is now the second shooting at a Christian elementary school by a transgender individual in recent years, after the Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2023.

Center for Christian Virtue’s Ohio Christian Education Network represents more than 200 Evangelical and Catholic schools in Ohio, serving more than 50,000 students. The following statement is from CCV President Aaron Baer:

“The grief, concern, and anger following the vicious attack at Annunciation Catholic School are almost too much to bear. At times like this, our only rest is found in prayers to a loving Heavenly Father who mourns with us and whose Holy Spirit is an endless fount of mercy and strength.

“As information on the attack continues to be released, one picture is coming into focus: this is the second recent instance of a transgender individual specifically targeting a Christian school, and children dying.

“This is unacceptable, and it is disgraceful for anyone in the media or in public office to downplay this reality or shift the focus away from the real victims.

“There must be an honest reckoning with the national conversation around LGBT issues, and the reasonable and right opposition to their ideology and political agenda. Describing every person of faith that does not think boys can become girls and men should not be allowed in women’s sports as a “hater” or a “bigot” fuels the fire that is tearing apart our communities.

“CCV urges state and national leaders to protect children in Christian schools and not be afraid to speak clearly and honestly about the threats that are taking the lives of innocent kids.” 

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org. For media inquiries, email media@ccv.org.

As Ohio's largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel.

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