The murder last month of Christian Nationalist Charlie Kirk dominated the news cycle for days and remained part of the news cycle for weeks. In a message sent directly to Sunshine Cathedral parishioners and friends, Bishop Durrell Watkins wrote, “From a pastoral perspective, I can say it was a tragedy that yet another person has been victimized by gun violence.
What I must also hasten to add is that a lot of the public performative grieving for Kirk is also promoting White Christian Nationalism. Kirk made a career promoting racist and homophobic, anti-Trans* and misogynistic ideologies. While our better natures may weep for another life taken by gun violence and the pain caused to his family, let us not forget the many families that are harmed by hateful ideologies and violence. And we must not let a sad event give cover to the promotion of White Christian Nationalism.”
In the United States, about 30% of the country fit the description of White Christian Nationalists. And the data show that churches are where White Christian Nationalism is taught and reinforced. In his missive, Bishop Durrell added, “If we find that as horrifying as we should, that means we MUST be a DIFFERENT KIND OF CHURCH, one that ACTIVELY resists oppressive ideologies and offers a clear alternative.”
