The assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University marks a profound and tragic turning point in American history, echoing the gravity of the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. As a devout Christian and conservative activist, Kirk was martyred for boldly proclaiming his faith and defending values rooted in the Gospel—life, family, and religious liberty—against a rising tide of secular hostility. His death, carried out by a woke trans activist sniper motivated by ideological hatred, underscores a crisis of political violence that demands a robust response from our Church leaders. Yet, the silence from both the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Pope Leo XIV is not only deafening but shameful, especially when contrasted with their vocal responses to other tragedies. We mourn a brother in Christ whose witness to truth cost him his life, and we are compelled to ask: why does the Church remain mute when a Christian’s martyrdom cries out for acknowledgment?
The USCCB and Pope Leo XIV have failed to issue official statements on Kirk’s assassination, a stark departure from the Church’s response to George Floyd’s killing in 2020. Then, Pope Francis explicitly named Floyd, condemned the “sin of racism,” and praised protesters as “collective Samaritans,” while the USCCB issued multiple statements decrying systemic racism and calling for justice. Similarly, in 1968, Pope Paul VI mourned King as a “Christian prophet” and Kennedy for his social justice work, and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops joined interfaith efforts to honor King’s legacy. These responses were direct, prophetic, and tied to Catholic teachings on human dignity. In contrast, Pope Leo XIV’s only reference to Kirk’s death was a vague remark during a September 13, 2025, diplomatic meeting, stating that “political differences can never be resolved with violence,” while the USCCB has offered no collective statement, only individual bishops’ condolences. This reticence, as noted by Catholic commentator Chris Jackson on Substack, suggests a troubling reluctance to address political violence when it targets a conservative figure like Kirk, whose outspoken faith aligned with traditional Catholic values.
As members of Corpus Christi for Unity and Peace, we must call our shepherds to account and pray for their courage to speak truth in this pivotal moment. Kirk’s martyrdom is not merely a political event but a spiritual one, demanding the Church’s voice to affirm the sanctity of life and the cost of discipleship in a divided world. The silence of the USCCB and Pope Leo XIV risks alienating the faithful who look to them for moral clarity, especially when their predecessors spoke boldly on comparable tragedies. Inspired by St. Catherine of Siena’s fearless defense of the Church, we urge our leaders to proclaim Kirk’s witness as a call to reject violence and restore Christ-centered unity. Let us commit to prayer, advocacy, and action, ensuring that Kirk’s sacrifice becomes a catalyst for renewing the Church and culture in fidelity to the Gospel. Together, we echo the cry: “Save the Church, Save the Culture!”
In Christ’s Peace,
Vicki Yamasaki
Founder and Chair, Corpus Christi for Unity and Peace