"It’s time to awaken our confidence, together, in Jesus Christ and the Gospel."

Archbishop Jerome Listecki responds to the violent protests that erupted in Milwaukee this past weekend.

This last Saturday, the burning and looting in protest over the shooting of an armed 23-yr.-old African-American in the Sherman Park neighborhood of Milwaukee generated a protest, which led to violence on the streets of a neighborhood that is already economically-challenged. It was painful to watch.

Members of a neighborhood, who depend upon police protection, were fighting the police and burning businesses, which the community depends upon, as well as looting these businesses, which showed individuals not protesting, but stealing. Protest is a right of every American, but burning, shooting at legitimate authority and stealing are not. In fact, those who committed these actions imposed self-inflicted wounds on the very community whose interests they claim to represent.

The anger and hurt that accompanies any action certainly is understandable, but violence is never justified as a response. Supporting the family, building the economy and attacking crime is a wonderful formula for defusing the intensity that creates the “burn baby, burn” mentality.

I firmly believe that the loss of a strong faith that builds character and creates change is currently missing from our current, secular equation. Faith in Jesus Christ has not changed. However, the commitment to live that faith has become dormant. It’s time to awaken our confidence, together, in Jesus Christ and the Gospel that presents us with the only true transformation which changes hearts as well as minds. We entrust our prayers to support the families and police authorities who have been caught in this conflict, as well as pray for peace in our neighborhoods and communities in Milwaukee and throughout the world.