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Thursday, September 13, 2001
By Ann Rodgers-Melnick, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
A thousand people packed St. Mary of Mercy Church at noon yesterday to hear Bishop Donald Wuerl respond to Tuesday's terrorism with the message that they must allow God's love to overcome hatred in their hearts and in the world.
"Love will conquer hatred ... but only if each of us takes on that attitude of Christ that says, 'I am responsible for bringing more peace and more love into the world,' " Wuerl said.
It was one of countless services held yesterday and continuing today in congregations of all faiths throughout the region, as people gathered to pray for the victims of terrorism, the nation and the world.
Today at noon Christian Associates of Southwestern Pennsylvania is sponsoring an ecumenical prayer service in First Lutheran Church, Grant Street, Downtown.
Wuerl's Mass opened with a hymn based on Psalm 23, which President Bush had quoted to the nation: "Shepherd me, O God/ Beyond my wants/ Beyond my fears/ From death into life."
Lois Stauff of the North Side, who hadn't attended Mass at St. Mary's since she retired, felt compelled to pray at the Downtown church yesterday.
"I couldn't give blood because I'm not able to. I couldn't go to Washington, D.C., or New York. This is the only thing I can contribute. This is the least I can do," she said.
Wuerl described Tuesday's events as "so horrendous that they outstrip our ability to express them."
But Americans must leave justice to the competent authorities, he said. The role models Americans should look to for their response must not be vigilantes, but those who rushed to rescue, even at the cost of their own lives, he added.
He specifically told Pittsburghers to banish ethnic hatred and religious bigotry from their response to the violence. Expanding those remarks after the Mass, Wuerl urged Pittsburghers to extend friendship to local Muslims.
"This might be a very important moment for us to reach out to our brothers and sisters in this community who feel frightened or threatened by something that they were not a part of and which was totally beyond them," he said.
Wuerl was in Washington, D.C., at a meeting with 50 other bishops when they were repeatedly interrupted with news of the escalating terror. They adjourned and walked to the nearby National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, whose vast worship space was filled with people.
"They came to pray and draw strength ... from the realization that, no matter what is happening around us, God continues to be there for us," he said.
Wuerl called on the faithful to be peacemakers in their families, communities and the world.
"This is a terrible moment, but we know that God stands with those on the side of truth and love and human solidarity, with those who banish hatred ... from their lives," he said.
(Click to the full text of Wuerl's message.) .
Some 300 people packed the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill last night to mourn the victims of terror in the United States and Israel, and to ask God for the strength to face the weeks ahead.
The United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh transformed its annual meeting into a community observance and prayer.
Rabbis Chuck Diamond of Congregation Beth Shalom, Irvin Chinn of Gemilas Chesed Synagogue and Mark Staitman of Rodef Shalom Congregation lead the prayers and readings. They were joined by 16 of their rabbinical colleagues from all branches of Judaism.
Howard Rieger, president of the federation, told the assembly that his organization had been meeting with Pittsburgh police and the FBI in preparation for upcoming community events, including the Jewish High holy days that begin next week.
One planned event, designed as a march and rally for solidarity with Israel on Sept. 23, has been changed to a unity gathering on the fields next to the Jewish Education Institute on Beechwood Boulevard.
Another community observance will be held this evening at Rodef Shalom Congregation in Oakland.
Staff writer Sally Kalson contributed to this report.