The mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday has triggered a renewed fight over responses to mass shootings.
Many on the Left have long criticized offering “thoughts and prayers” in response to tragedies as a shallow expression that distracts from implementing concrete solutions, such as gun control. Many on the Right have bashed the Left for its perceived insensitivity to religious beliefs, and counter that offering prayers is a kind and impactful way to provide comfort and express solidarity. The debate was first sparked after the Sandy Hook shooting in 2011, and has arisen after nearly every mass shooting since.
The current round of debate began when Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey appeared to dismiss the effectiveness of prayer in his first press conference after the shooting.
“Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now: these kids were literally praying … They were in a church,” he said, though he trailed off without making his intentions explicit.
The remarks were quickly interpreted by many on the Right as an attack on prayer and the faithful.
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki was more overt in her attack, dismissing thoughts and prayers altogether.
“Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does not end school shootings. prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers,” she said in a post on X.
Her post drew extensive backlash, with almost as many comments as likes. Most of the comments were negative, with Federalist CEO Sean Davis comparing her to a demon.
In an appearance on CNN, conservative commentator Scott Jennings said, “I think it’s wrong, frankly, to vilify or attack people of faith. You said, ‘thoughts and prayers ring hollow.’ I think thoughts and prayers are the most solid on days of tragedy for people who live their faith every day.”
“And I think on a day like today, particularly in a church community, there are probably people praying harder for comfort today than they have ever prayed in their life. And so I think, and I’ve heard others on the left today go down this line of attack against people of faith, sort of denigrating the idea that they might want to pray today. And so I think his statements were misguided,” he added.
Jennings also argued that prayer is a good way to increase empathy and understanding for victims’ families, urging people to spend 10 seconds in silence to think about the Minneapolis victims and their families.
He elaborated on his podcast, saying he “couldn’t believe it” when he heard Frey’s comments.
“I really don’t know what to say to Mayor Frey. People of faith turn to prayer in times of tragedy, and to decry their prayers, to belittle their faith, to angrily attack those whose faith fortifies them in their own lives, especially on days like today, I just don’t know what to say to Mayor Frey,” Jennings said.
“Perhaps, sir, you’re trying too hard to please a political base. My advice, offered humbly, is to shut up for a few hours and try not to offend anyone else as they grieve and recover from this tragic moment,” he added.
Vice President JD Vance also chimed in, disputing the basis for arguments against offering prayers in response to a tragedy.
“It is shocking to me that so many left wing politicians attack the idea of prayer in response to a tragedy. Literally no one thinks prayer is a substitute for action. We pray because our hearts are broken and we believe that God is listening,” Vance said.
Left-wing social media personality Brian Krassenstein made a similar post to Psaki, disputing the effectiveness of prayer. He went a step further to argue that it is the problem.
“Praying is the problem here, not the solution. People use prayer instead of action. If prayer worked, a house of prayer wouldn’t have just experienced this tragedy,” he wrote, drawing a similarly negative reaction.
CNN host Dana Bash also dismissed prayer in an interview with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
“Forget about thoughts and prayers. These kids were literally praying when they were murdered through a church window,” Bash said, with Klobuchar audibly agreeing with her.
MSNBC host Michael Steele gave similar remarks, though he more openly attacked prayer by calling it a “lie” in an interview with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN).
“I agree with the mayor. The thoughts and prayers. I’m so beyond that nonsense. The lie of that,” he said, arguing that those praying are standing in the way of solutions.
Some right-wing commentators accused the Left of double standards, arguing that it only felt emboldened to attack prayer because it is Christians who are concerned.
“Imagine if Muslims were murdered while saying their prayers. Do you think any Democrat would be trashing prayer in the aftermath? They have no fear demeaning Christians, though, and that’s a problem,” RedState writer Bonchie said.
Non-Christians also chimed in to defend prayer at a time of tragedy. Jewish columnist Batya Ungar-Sargon voiced outrage at Frey’s comments, comparing his rhetoric with that of the shooter.
“I am just gobsmacked that in their effort to immediately politicize a horrific tragedy in which children were murdered at prayer, the line that Democrat after Democrat seems to have chosen is ‘Where is your God?’ — which, incidentally, the murderer wrote on the magazine of his gun,” she said.
Outside of politics, faith leaders also defended prayer in a time of tragedy.
Pope Leo XIV sent a papal telegram to Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis, expressing his “heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the families now grieving the loss of a child.”
He commended “the souls of the deceased children to the love of Almighty God” and “prays for the wounded as well as the first responders, medical personnel, and clergy who are caring for them and their loved ones.”
The Orthodox Church was also affected by the shooting, with one of the critically wounded children belonging to the St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis. In a statement, Daniel Brum, Orthodox Church of America’s archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest, expressed his condolences and defended prayer.
“Many dismiss the phrase ‘thoughts and prayers,’ but as Christians, we know prayer is essential. Still, prayer alone is not enough. Christ sends us into the world to confront evil and to work for peace. Today, as we mourn, let us also commit to action so that all children of God may live together in the peace that comes only from Christ,” Brum said.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE MINNEAPOLIS ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC CHURCH SHOOTING
The Catholic Franciscan University responded to Psaki’s comments directly, arguing for the necessity of prayer.
“Prayer is not an escape from reality. It is the very place we meet Christ, who Himself was unjustly slain. We will continue to pray, not because we are passive, but because we know only God can bring true justice, healing, and peace. Evil wants us to stop praying and to despair. We will not. We cling to Christ, who has conquered death,” it said in a post on X.