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MILWAUKEE -- One of Wisconsin's most influential spiritual leaders, Catholic Archbishop Jerome Listecki reflected on Sunday's shooting at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek with FOX6 News. Six individuals lost their lives, and the gunman, identified as 40-year-old Wade Michael Page was fatally shot by Oak Creek police at the scene. Three were critically wounded. The FBI is investigating the incident as a possible "act of domestic terrorism."
While officials have not released an official motive in the case, it appears Page may have been motivated by hatred. FOX6 News spoke with Archbishop Listecki regarding how a community can begin to heal after seeing that hate and evil are indeed real.
FOX6's Mike Lowe: "Archbishop, I wanted to begin with the shooting in Aurora Colorado. While difficult to understand, we can kind of rationalize it. We see the pictures of the guy with crazy eyes, red hair and we see it as the sick work of a disturbed, detached, depressed guy. But when we hear about the reports of what happened in Oak Creek, it's something different. It seems like it's organized hate. How does a community begin to grapple with that reality?"
Archbishop Listecki: "First of all, evil comes in all shapes and sizes -- from the almost insane shooting in Colorado to the calculated terrorist attack on a very peaceful people, the Sikhs, who all they wanted to do is worship."
Mike Lowe: "How do you go about identifying evil -- calling it out and eliminating it?
Archbishop Listecki: "I think the very first thing is we recognize it, and we recognize that it exists. We have to be able to call it out, name it and in so doing, it's a light that's shined in this darkened area of our existence and culture, and that helps all of us to become safer."
Mike Lowe: "The Pope has talked about the 'clouds of evil overshadowing' parts of the earth. Do you see our society as locked in almost existential struggle between good and evil?"
Archbishop Listecki: "One of the aspects that sometimes is missed and only reflected on is in the midst of the tragedy, you had individuals who did heroic things. Why? They wanted to convince their brothers and sisters. In the instance of the Sikh community, the leader of the community kind of grappling with this man to his own death, police officers who came out to defend, that's really the best of us."
Mike Lowe: "Are there practical responses to this? For example, stricter gun control. Is there a moral imperative in passing legislation like that?"
Archbishop Listecki: "That's going to be left to the leaders and the politicians to be talking about that. What our job -- and any religious leader -- is to embrace their community and talk about the dignity of human life. To hold up that dignity and make sure we support it."
Mike Lowe: "It will surprise no one watching this conversation between you and me -- we don`t look like the Sikh's. Milwaukee is clearly a predominantly Christian, predominantly white community. They are the 'other' here. They look different from us. They went to this temple, this house of worship, to find comfort in a community of similar people. What would you say to the Sikh`s of Milwaukee, about how their faith made them targets?"
Archbishop Listecki: "I say immediately, they are one with us. They are our brothers and sisters in the community. They live here. They work with us, and the mere fact that they worship at a different site, or that they look different in no way detracts from our oneness."
Mike Lowe: "This happened at a house of worship -- traditionally places that welcome all. The name itself means universal. Anyone could walk into that Cathedral behind you. Has it made you rethink security at Catholic facilities?"
Archbishop Listecki: "Right now, no. Right now we have an understanding that there's a heightened awareness that all of us should have. We are all vulnerable in our society."
Mike Lowe: "Let's end on a hopeful note. In some way do these tragic events serve to bring us closer? We were mentioning the vigil that happened at Cathedral Square (Sunday) night, where complete strangers gathered arm in arm and bathed in the soft glow of the candlight, to reflect and come together -- people who wouldn't normally do that. Does something that tears our hearts apart also bind them together?"
Archbishop Listecki: "Our hearts, minds and prayers go out to the Sikh community. We stand with them as they deal intensely with the personal loss and suffering, and we reflect on our own loss and suffering. We see ourselves as one, and we do not see ourselves as different. That's an aspect of a loving God that is present."
CLICK HERE for more Sikh Temple shooting coverage via FOX6Now.com.