As the leader of the Catholic Church in Tampa Bay, I write to express my solidarity with Jewish individuals and communities around the country and world who have faced acts of violence.  Antisemitism is a grave sin against God and humanity that must be actively denounced through education, dialogue, and a commitment to justice and peace.

On June 1^st, individuals in Boulder, Colorado who were marching for the release of Israeli hostages were injured by an explosive device. This is one example of violence, rooted in religious hatred, that is a direct assault on the values of dignity, respect, and human decency that bind us together as a society.

Whether it manifests as hateful rhetoric, vandalism of sacred spaces, or physical violence, antisemitism must be confronted with unwavering condemnation and decisive action. 

To see the Jewish community targeted with such cruelty is both heartbreaking and unacceptable. There is no justification—political, religious, or otherwise—for hatred. Violence against Jews is not an isolated issue; it is part of a broader issue with bigotry and extremism that threatens the safety of many groups, including Christians. When one community is attacked, we are all diminished. Silence in the face of such hatred is complicity.

It is our moral obligation to stand in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters. Together, we can build a future where every person, regardless of faith or background, is treated with the reverence they deserve as human beings created in the image of God.