Baton Rouge Bishop promoting dialogue and healing

(Vatican Radio)  Bishop Robert Muench of Baton Rouge, the Louisiana state capital where three policemen were shot dead by an African American former Marine, says the mood in the city is somber and he describes how the Catholic Church and community leaders are attempting to calm racial tensions. 

Tensions had been running high in Baton Rouge since July 5th when a black man was shot dead by police there, prompting days of angry protests by the African American community.  Bishop Muench spoke to Susy Hodges about the challenges facing the city and what the Church is doing to promote dialogue and healing.

Listen to the interview with Bishop Robert Muench of Baton Rouge:

Bishop Muench said prayer vigils and fasting were taking place throughout this week and his diocese was planning to hold a special Sunday Mass at the city’s cathedral.  He described the mood in Baton Rouge as somber, reflective and prayerful and noted that the man accused of killing the three police officers was not from Louisiana. 

Asked about race relations, Bishop Muench stressed that the people of the Catholic Church in Baton Rouge “have no hostility towards people of different races” and the different Christian denominations “are very united” and often cooperate together on a range of projects.  He also denied suggestions that the inhabitants of Baton Rouge have an especially “hostile” relationship between the different races but conceded that “we need to address” the tensions that exist and foster more dialogue so that “we have a better understanding of how everybody feels.”