California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) drew sharp criticism this week after mocking the power of prayer in response to the tragic mass shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, where two children were killed and 17 others wounded during morning Mass.
When White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted that “prayer works,” Newsom fired back on X, “There children were literally praying as they got shot at,” implying prayer had no effect. His comments reflect a longstanding Democratic talking point dismissing “thoughts and prayers” as insufficient in the wake of mass shootings, with many Democrats arguing instead for more gun control measures.
Critics note, however, that Minnesota already has strict laws on the books, including “red flag” provisions designed to remove guns from dangerous individuals. Calls for additional restrictions, they argue, ignore the failures of existing measures.
The attack in Minneapolis has been officially classified as an anti-Catholic hate crime after the trans-identifying shooter targeted students and staff while mocking their faith in his writings and video manifesto.
Liberal-turned-Trump supporter Batya Ungar-Sargon said Democrats were effectively blaming the victims for being in church: “They’re citing the fact that the children were at morning mass as proof that prayers do not work.”
Newsom’s record on religious liberty has come under fire before. During the coronavirus pandemic, he imposed some of the harshest restrictions in the country on religious gatherings, including banning prayer meetings in private homes — a policy struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. He has also gained notoriety for advertising California as an abortion haven, even subsidizing out-of-state travel for women seeking abortions.
Newsom’s remarks are being widely condemned by religious leaders and conservatives who see them as another attack on faith in America.
