The bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts issued on Jan. 6, 2020, the following statement condemning violence against Jews and extending solidarity with the Jewish community.
We deplore and condemn the recent surge in violent attacks on members of the Jewish community in New York and elsewhere. There is no place for anti-Semitism in Christian faith and practice, and no place for such hatred and violence in our society.
We extend the compassion, support and solidarity of our membership to our Jewish colleagues, neighbors and kindred in Massachusetts and beyond.
We affirm the message of this joint ecumenical letter from Christian leaders across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which we have both signed, along with our colleague Bishop Douglas J. Fisher of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, Dean Amy E. McCreath of our Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston and by numerous other leaders throughout our diocese (list of signers here). We encourage others to add their own sign of support to this statement (signatures may be added here).
As we begin this new year and new decade, in the words of the joint statement, "may we each resolve to restore tolerance, decry hatred, celebrate diversity, ‘give to bigotry no sanction and to persecution no assistance.’"
The Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates, Bishop Diocesan
The Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris, Bishop Suffragan