Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot in Washington, D.C. on November 26. The attack, believed to be carried out by a lone suspect, left the victims in critical condition. Catholic bishops are offering prayers for the injured National Guard members. The FBI is treating the attack as an assault on a federal law enforcement officer. President Donald Trump had previously deployed National Guard troops to the nation's capital to combat crime.
19 days ago
Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot in a midafternoon attack near the White House in Washington, D.C., on November 26, 2025.1
The victims, who were on high-visibility patrols, were hospitalized in critical condition after the incident, which authorities believe was carried out by a lone suspect now in custody.1
Initial reports from West Virginia Gov. Patrick James Morrisey suggested the pair had been killed, but this was later corrected.1
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed solidarity with the victims, offering prayers for their healing.1
Chieko Noguchi, a USCCB spokesperson, told OSV News that the bishops would continue monitoring the situation as it develops.1
In August 2025, President Donald Trump federalized over 2,000 National Guard troops and deployed them to Washington, D.C., to address rising crime, overriding protests from Mayor Muriel Bowser.1
This move sparked legal challenges; a federal judge ruled it appeared illegal on November 20 but stayed the order until December 11 to allow for appeals.1
Similar deployments have occurred in other cities, with troops securing Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, drawing widespread controversy.1
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the shooting would be investigated federally as an assault on a law enforcement officer.1
At a press conference, Patel and Mayor Bowser provided updates alongside D.C. Metropolitan Police Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll.1
President Trump, from Palm Beach, Florida, for Thanksgiving, ordered an additional 500 National Guard troops to the capital and condemned the attacker on Truth Social, vowing severe consequences while praising the military and law enforcement.1
War Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the troop increase in response to the attack.1
Assess Catholic Church’s response to violence against National Guard personnel
The Catholic Church responds to violence against National Guard personnel—or any acts targeting those who serve to protect society—with profound sorrow, fervent prayer, and a call to build a culture of life and peace. Drawing from its rich tradition, the Church condemns such violence as an assault on human dignity, while recognizing the legitimate role of public authority in defending the innocent. This response emphasizes solidarity with victims, the pursuit of justice without vengeance, and systemic efforts to address root causes like gun violence and societal breakdown. Grounded in Scripture, papal teachings, and episcopal statements, the Church urges dialogue, mercy, and reconciliation as paths forward, echoing Christ's command to love even enemies.
At its core, the Church views violence against National Guard members as a grave violation of the sacredness of life, which is inviolable from conception to natural death. The National Guard, as part of the state's apparatus for maintaining order and security, embodies the legitimate authority entrusted with protecting the common good. When personnel are targeted, it disrupts not only individual lives but the social fabric that allows communities to flourish in peace. Pope John Paul II, in Evangelium Vitae, affirms that "to kill a human being, in whom the image of God is present, is a particularly serious sin," underscoring that no circumstance justifies the direct taking of innocent life. This principle extends to those in service roles, as the Church teaches that society has a duty "to defend life against violence and to reach out to victims of crime."
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has repeatedly decried such acts, framing them within a broader "culture of violence" that destroys "the lives, dignity and hopes of millions of our sisters and brothers." In their 1994 pastoral message Confronting a Culture of Violence, the bishops highlight how violence in streets, homes, and against public servants erodes justice, calling for a response rooted in the Gospel's non-violent ethic. Similarly, in addressing global parallels like the killings in Nigeria's Benue State—where rural communities and protectors faced "relentless attacks"—the USCCB expressed "profound sadness and steadfast ecclesial solidarity," joining in prayers for an end to "brutal violence." This mirrors the Church's approach to domestic incidents, where violence against law enforcement or military personnel is seen as a symptom of deeper societal ills, demanding not retaliation but restorative justice.
Pope Francis reinforces this by appealing to those who "sow violence and death by force of arms" to "discover rather your brother or sister, and hold back your hand!" In Fratelli Tutti, he warns that yielding to violence in any form—whether against civilians or guardians of order—leads to a cycle of death, urging Christians to remember Isaiah's prophecy: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares." For National Guard personnel, often deployed in domestic crises like natural disasters or civil unrest, such violence strikes at the heart of the Church's vision for a society where authority serves the vulnerable, not oppresses them.
The Church's immediate response to violence is one of prayer and communal mourning, offering spiritual solace to victims, their families, and affected communities. This pastoral care reflects Christ's compassion for the suffering, as seen in the USCCB's letter to Nigerian bishops, where they pray for "the families of those killed, for the injured and traumatized," and invoke God's comfort for those who mourn. Echoing Pope Leo XIV's prayers for "security, justice, and peace" in vulnerable regions, the Church extends this to American contexts, beseeching divine mercy for all impacted by tragedy.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), the faithful are encouraged to renounce violence and bloodshed, bearing witness to "evangelical charity" by supporting the weakest through non-violent means. This includes accompanying National Guard families, many of whom are Catholic, with sacraments, counseling, and community support. The bishops' document Cherishing Life emphasizes that the state's role in opposing force with force must prioritize justice over mere order, ensuring that protectors' sacrifices are honored with reverence. Historical papal addresses, such as Pope Paul VI's 1969 speech to U.S. governors, express hope amid conflict, praying for an end to wars and violence that cost "human lives," while affirming the resolve to defend the weak. Today, this translates to diocesan initiatives, like those following mass shootings or attacks on first responders, where bishops lead Masses of Remembrance and advocate for mental health resources for survivors.
Beyond condemnation and prayer, the Church advocates for proactive measures to prevent violence and promote healing. Recognizing the National Guard's role in legitimate defense, the Church upholds the right—and duty—of authority to repel aggression, but insists this must be "necessary and measured." As St. Thomas Aquinas taught, force in self-defense is lawful only if proportionate, never exceeding "the limits of a blameless defense." Pope John Paul II clarifies in Evangelium Vitae that legitimate defense can involve grave harm to an aggressor if unavoidable, but the fatal outcome remains attributable to the aggressor's actions, not the defender. For the state, including the National Guard, this means using force to protect society without descending into vengeance.
The USCCB's backgrounder on gun violence—relevant if the incident involves firearms—calls for "reasonable regulations" like universal background checks and limits on high-capacity weapons to curb easy access that fuels attacks on public servants. They urge Catholics to support policies improving mental health access and restorative justice programs, helping offenders reintegrate and reducing recidivism. In Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the bishops stress ending reliance on the death penalty for crimes, including those against protectors, as it no longer serves the common good in modern societies with effective alternatives. This aligns with Pope Francis's declaration that the death penalty is inadmissible, as it attacks human dignity even for the guilty.
Broader peacebuilding draws from just war principles, adapted to domestic violence. While war must be a last resort, the Church condemns indifference to conflict and calls for preventing escalation through dialogue and reconciliation. In Fratelli Tutti, public authority is affirmed in imposing penalties on evildoers, but always with an eye to rehabilitation and the common good. The bishops' legislative priorities include criminal justice reform, ending racism, and investing in mental health to address root causes of violence against those in uniform. Papal precedents, like Pope Benedict XV's 1914 plea to rulers to "hasten to restore... the blessings of peace," remind that violated rights can be rectified without arms.
A key nuance in the Church's teaching is distinguishing private violence from state-sanctioned force. Private citizens may not take lethal action lightly, but the state, through entities like the National Guard, has a duty to protect lives. Cherishing Life notes that "the use of lethal force by private citizens should be even more tightly circumscribed than... by the police," emphasizing proportionality. The CCC reinforces that those who safeguard rights through non-violent means witness to charity, highlighting the moral risks of violence.
In contemporary just war discourse, scholars like Gregory M. Reichberg observe a shift toward unequivocal condemnation of "war" and "violence" as illicit, while preserving legitimacy for defensive measures by authority. This "legitimist" approach avoids glorifying force, focusing instead on mercy and peace. Pope Leo XIII warned against "recourse to violence and injustice" in just causes, as it harms the very defense being mounted. Thus, the Church critiques any militarization that escalates tensions, urging National Guard deployments to prioritize de-escalation and human rights.
If sources like a specific papal statement on a National Guard incident (e.g., under Pope Leo XIV) were available, they would likely echo these themes, as seen in his July 2025 address emphasizing hope amid violence and ecumenical solidarity. However, the provided references do not include a direct statement on such an event, limiting analysis to general principles; these remain highly relevant, as the Church applies them universally to protect all lives, including those of servants like the Guard.
In summary, the Catholic Church's response to violence against National Guard personnel is holistic: mourning the loss, praying for healing, condemning the act as antithetical to dignity, and advocating for just reforms that foster peace. By integrating self-defense with mercy, it calls the faithful to transform society through love, ensuring protectors and protected alike can live in security. This faithful witness, rooted in Christ's Gospel, offers a beacon amid darkness, inviting all to renounce violence for the Kingdom of God.