Newtown

A year ago, Pope Benedict XVI held the most exalted throne in the Catholic Church. Unrest in the Middle East and the successful launch of a North Korean rocket vied with the hospitalization of Nelson Mandela and royal baby for headlines in various newspapers. In a quiet village in Connecticut, residents were preparing themselves for another busy Yuletide season. Homes were draped in festive lighting and children were eagerly preparing their gift wishes for Santa.

This December, newly-elected Pope Francis adorned Time magazine’s cover as “Person of the Year.” Unrest in the Middle East has slipped to the mid-section of most newspapers, as the Affordable Care Act and the economy occupy peoples’ attentions, and Madiba was laid to rest in his hometown, Qunu, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. However, as most of us embrace the festive season in spite of the headlines, life will never be the same again for the residents of Newtown, Connecticut. They continue to deal with the murder of 20 first-graders and six adults. According to a Vanity Fair article, Monsignor Robert Weiss was the first member of the clergy to reach the scene of carnage at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The pastor of St. Rose Lima church admitted suffering from post-traumatic stress and depression as a result of the events. Recovering from trauma will undoubtedly also be difficult for the residents of Centennial, Colorado – location of the latest school shooting.

The Daily Beast reported a tally of 24 school shootings during 2013—that is, shootings that occurred on school campuses when students were present. Washington correspondent, Ryan Lizza, listed four reasons why the gun control bills failed in The New Yorker. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America—a grassroots movement for gun reform—have grown to nearly 130,000 members across the country.

Nelson Mandela once said: "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."

Is anyone listening?