[Episcopal Diocese of Arizona] I join with our Presiding Bishop in praying for those who died and were injured, and with my fellow bishops and clergy, and Arizona elected representatives in condemning the acts of domestic terrorism we witnessed [Aug. 12] in Charlottesville, Virginia. Members of “alt-right” groups, Klan Members, and Neo-Nazis are not patriots and they are not Christian. They are evil and we in the church must be unequivocal in condemning both their ideology and their actions. I would ask that you continue to pray for those killed or injured and that you demand that our political leadership might courageously and completely reject such behavior as anti-American. Please also include in your prayers religious leaders that we allow no place in our communities for the sin of racism.

The Rt. Rev. Kirk Smith