What's Happening

November 19, 2015, Adrian, Michigan – In response to recent terrorist attacks and the reaction of some Americans in favor of closing U.S. borders to refugees, the General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters has issued the following statement:

The Adrian Dominican Sisters, a U.S. Congregation of 700 women religious, condemn unequivocally the recent terrorist attacks that have taken place in Nigeria, Baghdad, Egypt, Beirut and, most recently, Paris. 

Pope Francis, speaking of the terrorist attack in Paris, stated, “There is no religious or human justification for these things.” President Obama characterized it as “an attack on all humanity.”

More than ever, these times call for global solidarity and a resistance to the instinct to respond to the violence with more violence. As Pope Francis has stated, “the path of violence and hatred doesn’t solve the problems of humanity.” 

We Adrian Dominican Sisters pray for all the victims of terrorist violence and their families. We stand in solidarity with our peace loving Muslim brothers and sisters. Fear and anger against ISIS and other terrorist groups must not be directed against Muslims. We also stand in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing violence and terror. As President Obama stated, “We do not close our hearts to these victims of such violence and somehow start equating the issue of refugees with the issue of terrorism.”

We call on all governmental officials to welcome Syrian and other refugees fleeing terrorist violence and persecution.