Faith In The Wake Of Tragedy Orlando Shooting Reactions from KC's Religion Leaders

President Obama has called the Orlando, Florida massacre a case of “homegrown extremism,” with gunman Omar Mateen reportedly pledging allegiance to the Islamic State during the attack at a popular gay nightclub. But the religious sentiment was altogether different at a Sunday evening vigil in downtown Kansas City to honor the dead and wounded from what is now being called the deadliest shooting rampage in American history.

The event drew a variety of faith leaders, and Flatland gathered their perspectives on the tragedy as part of the KCPT and Hale Center for Journalism project Beyond Belief, a series of stories and discussions about faith in our city.

‘True Muslims Would Never Commit Such a Terrible Act’ | Abdulrahman “Wajeeh” Alkhiary, Human Rights Activist

Alkhiary moved to the United States 11 years ago and double majored in politics and economics at Kansas State University. “I am from Saudi Arabia. Being gay there, I would be stoned to death by Sharia Law, so this just disgusts me that this could happen in America. True Muslims would never commit such a terrible act. This was an act of hatred, not belief. Even if the Muslim faith does not embrace the LGBT community, they do not believe in violence.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

Alkhiary moved to the United States 11 years ago and double majored in politics and economics at Kansas State University. “I am from Saudi Arabia. Being gay there, I would be stoned to death by Sharia Law, so this just disgusts me that this could happen in America. True Muslims would never commit such a terrible act. This was an act of hatred, not belief. Even if the Muslim faith does not embrace the LGBT community, they do not believe in violence.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

Alkhiary moved to the United States 11 years ago and double majored in politics and economics at Kansas State University. “I am from Saudi Arabia. Being gay there, I would be stoned to death by Sharia Law, so this just disgusts me that this could happen in America. True Muslims would never commit such a terrible act. This was an act of hatred, not belief. Even if the Muslim faith does not embrace the LGBT community, they do not believe in violence.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

‘Stop, Pray, and Love.’  | Rev. Donna J. Simon, St. Mark Hope and Peace Lutheran Church 

“As a person of faith, and a member of the LGBT community, I can say that when I learned of the shootings, it felt like, 'Here we are, again.' There has been so much violence directed at this community, especially at our transgender community. We were once again in the crucible of being attacked. Now you add the peaceful religion of Islam into the mix, and you get all kinds of awful, awful reactions from people. What my religion says to do in these times, is to stop, pray, and love. And that is what we did at church today.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

“As a person of faith, and a member of the LGBT community, I can say that when I learned of the shootings, it felt like, 'Here we are, again.' There has been so much violence directed at this community, especially at our transgender community. We were once again in the crucible of being attacked. Now you add the peaceful religion of Islam into the mix, and you get all kinds of awful, awful reactions from people. What my religion says to do in these times, is to stop, pray, and love. And that is what we did at church today.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

“As a person of faith, and a member of the LGBT community, I can say that when I learned of the shootings, it felt like, 'Here we are, again.' There has been so much violence directed at this community, especially at our transgender community. We were once again in the crucible of being attacked. Now you add the peaceful religion of Islam into the mix, and you get all kinds of awful, awful reactions from people. What my religion says to do in these times, is to stop, pray, and love. And that is what we did at church today.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

‘We Are All Created, As We Say in Hebrew, B’tselem Elohim: In God’s Image.‘ |  Rabbi Douglas A. Alpert, Congregation Kol Ami

“Obviously what happened in Orlando, it's horrific. It seems in a number of ways, the ongoing dilemma in the world, is that we separate, and that we divide. That when we see others that are not quite like us, we shun, we demonize, or somehow we make them a risk. Within my own faith tradition of Judaism, that we are all created, as we say in Hebrew, ‘B'tselem Elohim,’ in God’s image.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

“Obviously what happened in Orlando, it's horrific. It seems in a number of ways, the ongoing dilemma in the world, is that we separate, and that we divide. That when we see others that are not quite like us, we shun, we demonize, or somehow we make them a risk. Within my own faith tradition of Judaism, that we are all created, as we say in Hebrew, ‘B'tselem Elohim,’ in God’s image.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

“Obviously what happened in Orlando, it's horrific. It seems in a number of ways, the ongoing dilemma in the world, is that we separate, and that we divide. That when we see others that are not quite like us, we shun, we demonize, or somehow we make them a risk. Within my own faith tradition of Judaism, that we are all created, as we say in Hebrew, ‘B'tselem Elohim,’ in God’s image.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

‘God Loves All of Us, Even the Person that Committed This Horrible Crime.’ | Beau G. Heyen, President and CEO, Episcopal Community Services

Heyen organized the rally after preaching at an Episcopal church in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. He contacted city officials and friends. “When I first came out, I lost my faith. I was very lost, I lost a lot of who I was. I went through a very dark time. I walked into Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, 4,000 people worshipping with a full orchestra, a choir and LGBT allies. And I was in tears. I realized that God still loved me. God loves all of us, even the person that committed this horrible crime.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

Heyen organized the rally after preaching at an Episcopal church in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. He contacted city officials and friends. “When I first came out, I lost my faith. I was very lost, I lost a lot of who I was. I went through a very dark time. I walked into Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, 4,000 people worshipping with a full orchestra, a choir and LGBT allies. And I was in tears. I realized that God still loved me. God loves all of us, even the person that committed this horrible crime.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

Heyen organized the rally after preaching at an Episcopal church in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. He contacted city officials and friends. “When I first came out, I lost my faith. I was very lost, I lost a lot of who I was. I went through a very dark time. I walked into Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, 4,000 people worshipping with a full orchestra, a choir and LGBT allies. And I was in tears. I realized that God still loved me. God loves all of us, even the person that committed this horrible crime.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

‘We are Bigger than This, We are Better Than This.’ | Kevin White, Deacon, St. Mary’s Church, Kansas City.

White heard about the shootings early Sunday before presiding over the 8:30 a.m. Mass. “My initial reaction was, 'Not again.’ The only thing that the religious leadership in this community can do is initially provide the best pastoral support that we can. But then, try to, by our example, that division does not define this community. We are bigger than this, we are better than this.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

White heard about the shootings early Sunday before presiding over the 8:30 a.m. Mass. “My initial reaction was, 'Not again.’ The only thing that the religious leadership in this community can do is initially provide the best pastoral support that we can. But then, try to, by our example, that division does not define this community. We are bigger than this, we are better than this.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

White heard about the shootings early Sunday before presiding over the 8:30 a.m. Mass. “My initial reaction was, 'Not again.’ The only thing that the religious leadership in this community can do is initially provide the best pastoral support that we can. But then, try to, by our example, that division does not define this community. We are bigger than this, we are better than this.” (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

‘How Can We Make Changes in Our Society?’ | Josh Paszkiewicz and Tam Bi, United Buddhist Church

Paszkiewicz: “It's so disappointing, because it doesn’t matter how much you work towards equality, if it can be erased in a moment by some bigot with a gun. Buddhism is obviously a non-violent religion, and that is why we are here today. Just bearing witness to that. And also offering words of encouragement to think about or to contemplate, how we can make changes in our society that are practical, that stem from our religious understanding of non-violence, and opening our hearts to all people?" (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

Paszkiewicz: “It's so disappointing, because it doesn’t matter how much you work towards equality, if it can be erased in a moment by some bigot with a gun. Buddhism is obviously a non-violent religion, and that is why we are here today. Just bearing witness to that. And also offering words of encouragement to think about or to contemplate, how we can make changes in our society that are practical, that stem from our religious understanding of non-violence, and opening our hearts to all people?" (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

Paszkiewicz: “It's so disappointing, because it doesn’t matter how much you work towards equality, if it can be erased in a moment by some bigot with a gun. Buddhism is obviously a non-violent religion, and that is why we are here today. Just bearing witness to that. And also offering words of encouragement to think about or to contemplate, how we can make changes in our society that are practical, that stem from our religious understanding of non-violence, and opening our hearts to all people?" (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

For continued coverage of the Orlando events, follow NPR’s The Two Way blog.

This story is part of the KCPT and Hale Center for Journalism project Beyond Belief, a series of stories and discussions about faith in our city. The project is part of Localore: Finding America, created by AIR, a Boston-based network of independent public media producers. Principle funding comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

— Daniel Boothe is a reporter for Kansas City Public Television. To reach Boothe email him at dboothe@kcpt.org.