“God-fearing individuals must fight evil with love,” says evangelical leader. “I pray that our government will undertake appropriate measures to stop these horrible crimes,” says Catholic bishop.
By Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune
Sorrow and horror seeped into the American psyche Wednesday as news spread of the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a devout evangelical Christian.
In announcing Kirk’s death, his organization said on social media, “May he be received into the merciful arms of our loving Savior, who suffered and died for Charlie.”
Utah religious leaders joined commenters, politicians, and friends in expressing their grief and concern.
“This tragedy has been made more personal in that the assassination of Charlie was committed in our own backyard, on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem,” said the Rev. Gregory Johnson, who leads Standing Together, a consortium of the Beehive State’s evangelical churches.
The 31-year-old Kirk offered “a biblically clear and passionate moral voice to high school and college students across our country, leading a movement of American youth to a more patriotic and Judeo-Christian worldview,” Johnson said in a statement. “He was articulate, passionate, and wise. He offered a reason for the faith within him and showed his courage by standing before his critics with well-reasoned arguments.”
In this “moment of evil and violence, we call upon the people of Utah and our nation to not return evil for evil,” the Utah pastor pleaded. “We will not honor our brother’s sacred call and service by turning to any effort of retaliation or by seeking revenge. Christians and other God-fearing individuals must fight evil with love. As a Christian movement, we believe the love of Jesus Christ is the greatest weapon in an effort to destroy hate and evil.”
Like many others, Johnson urged Americans to “lift up Charlie’s wife, children, family, friends and all those affected by this senseless and cowardly act of murder and destruction,” he said. “May God be with them all in their time of sorrow, suffering, and loss.”
Utah’s predominant faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said it “condemn[s] violence and lawless behavior,” spokesperson Doug Andersen said in a release. “We also pray that we may treat one another with greater kindness, compassion, and goodness. For members of the church, we reaffirm the Savior’s teaching and admonition is to love our neighbor.”
Bishop Oscar Solis, leader of Utah’s 300,000 Catholics, added his voice to the others in supporting Kirk’s family in this time of grief.
“I will pray for the repose of his soul,” Solis said. “I am also praying for all who were affected, especially those who were present at the event on campus, the many people who admired Mr. Kirk, and most particularly his family.”
The bishop said in a statement posted on the Intermountain Catholic website that he would “continue to pray for all the victims of gun violence throughout the years and their families. It is appalling that senseless acts of violence such as this continue to occur.”
Solis worries that society “has lost the sense of the sanctity of life,” he wrote, “and I pray that our government will undertake appropriate measures to stop these horrible crimes.”
First published September 10, 2025