Although there’s the occasional glint of good news in my news feed — like “Firefighters Free Sauk Centre Man from Submerged Tanker” (KNSI (June 17, 2025)) — most of what I see is no reason for celebration.
That said, attacks on politicians in Minnesota — bad as they were — could have ended with many more dead bodies and hurting families. Even so, there’s precious little to celebrate.
This week I’ll be looking at what happened, what’s being said about it, and both how I feel and what I think of the situation.
Murders, Motives, and Responses
The words “assassin” and “assassination” started popping up in headlines about the two killings and multiple attacks over the weekend, down in the Twin Cities. Given what we’re learning about the incidents, that makes sense.
So does the early focus on the person who apparently killed those folks:
“Food worker with ‘fantasy’ of security career sought in Minnesota political shootings”
Brian Mann, NPR (9:40 p.m. June 15, 2025)“…In social media posts and websites, Boelter said he had extensive experience as a security professional with ‘training by both private security firms and by people in the U.S. Military.’
“NPR found little evidence to support Boelter’s account. He appears to have worked most of his career in the food service industry and one long-time friend described parts of Boelter’s narrative about his life as ‘fantasy.’…”
[details given later in article)“…Evans said investigators aren’t yet certain Boelter acted alone. ‘We still don’t know if other people may be involved,’ Evans said. ‘This individual is the person of interest right now, but there may be other people with him.’…”
There’s still a great deal we don’t know about the killer: or that I haven’t seen in the news, at any rate. What is certain is that he was found, alive; was arrested; and is looking at serious legal trouble.
- “Hennepin County Attorney’s Office confirms multiple charges against Vance Luther Boelter, will seek first-degree murder charges”
Hennepin County Attorney, News (June 2025) - “After Two-Day Manhunt, Suspect Charged with Shooting Two Minnesota Lawmakers and Their Spouses”
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs (June 16, 2025)
Local and regional news started focusing on the deceased’s children, and those of the couple who survived. I see this as a good thing, since it’s a reminder that politicos are people, too.
Bad as it was, what happened over the weekend could have been a lot worse if a police sergeant hadn’t thought a welfare check was a good idea:
“…Brooklyn Park Police officials confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday that the sergeant’s name is Rielly Nordan….
“…Sgt. Nordan had just finished his shift and was walking out of the police station when he heard of the shooting at Hoffman’s house.
“‘Being alert, seeing two officers in the police department, he [Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Burley] said, “Hey, drive by Melissa Hortman’s house and just check on the house, would you?”’….”
(“Catching Minnesota assassination suspect: How a hunch and a mistake led to his arrest” , Bill Hutchinson, ABC News (June 17, 2025)) [emphasis mine]
That decision almost certainly saved lives: which I see as very good news.
A “Deeply Religious” Assassin
National news, when it mentions the weekend killings, has been focusing more on the political and public safety angles.
That makes sense, but I’m not happy about what may be an emerging theme:
“Friends say Minnesota shooting suspect was deeply religious and conservative”
Im Mustian, Michael Bieseker; AP News (June 16, 2025)“The man accused of assassinating the top Democrat in the Minnesota House held deeply religious and politically conservative views, telling a congregation in Africa two years ago that the U.S. was in a ‘bad place’ where most churches didn’t oppose abortion….”
“…The church Boelter attended outside Minneapolis issued a statement Sunday condemning the shootings as ‘the opposite of what Jesus taught his followers to do.’
“‘This incident has devastated our church family and does not reflect our values or beliefs,’ the Jordan Family Church said on its website, adding it was cooperating with law enforcement….”
[emphasis mine]
Between frothing radio preachers of my youth denouncing ‘un-American’ ideas like peace, love, and brotherhood, and a lifetime spent in a culture recovering from that lunacy — I’m just glad that AP article quoted the killer’s church leaders, and that they seem to have read the Bible.
So far, I haven’t seen headlines suggesting that ‘beware the religious assassins’ is getting traction in op-eds.
That, for me, is also very good news.
What Two Bishops and an Executive Director Said
I had to dig a little to find a ‘Catholic’ response to the weekend’s killings. Possibly because priests and bishops aren’t, for the most part, nearly as colorful as some of my country’s old-school preachers.
“Minn. Catholic leaders mourn shooting death of Melissa Hortman, state lawmaker”
Joe Ruff/The Catholic Spirit, National Catholic Reporter (June 14, 2025)“…Jason Adkins, executive director and general counsel of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, said in a June 14 statement that he was ‘deeply saddened and angered by the cold-blooded assassination’ of Hortman and her husband and the attempted murder of Hoffman and his wife.
“‘Serving in a position of leadership requires making difficult choices and sticking to one’s word, while not abandoning one’s principles. I can personally attest from working with Representative Hortman that she was such a leader,’ he said. ‘We disagreed on key issues but still found opportunities to collaborate and solve difficult problems that mattered to Minnesotans generally and Catholics, specifically. We will be praying for the repose of her soul.’
“‘Senator Hoffman is a champion of vulnerable people in our communities and is a person of deep conviction. He is also a friend. Minnesota cannot afford to lose his presence in state government and our staff is praying fervently for him and for his family,’ Adkins continued….”
[emphasis mine]***
“Bishop Neary statement on tragic shooting”
Around the Diocese , The Central Minnesota Catholic (June 14, 2025)“My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
“It is with a heavy heart that I address you following the tragic shootings in our state. We mourn the loss of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and pray for the recovery of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.
“I had the opportunity to meet with Speaker Emerita Hortman in March during our annual advocacy day. I recall her dedication, compassion and goodwill for the people of Minnesota.
“In these difficult times, l ask everyone to join me in prayer for the victims and their families and for an end to violence in our society.
“May we all do our part to promote peace, understanding and respect for all life.”
[emphasis mine]***
Bishop Robert Barron, X/Twitter (June 14, 2025)
“A terrible tragedy occurred in my home state of Minnesota early this morning. A gunman, disguised as a police officer, shot and wounded State Senator John Hoffman and his wife and subsequently shot and killed State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband.
“A few months ago, the bishops of Minnesota visited the State Capitol in order to speak to some of the political leadership of our state. Both Sen. Hoffman and Rep. Hortman were among those we visited with. I was deeply impressed by both. Rep. Hortman listened to us with sharp intelligence and acute attention. And I had a wonderful conversation with Sen. Hoffman, who was a graduate of St. Mary’s University in my diocese. He shared his passion for Catholic Social Teaching.
“God knows we are divided society, but our political differences must never, ever give rise to violence. Please pray for the swift recovery of Sen. Hoffman and his wife and for the repose of the souls of Rep. Hortman and her husband.”
[emphasis mine]
Saying something nice about recently-deceased public figures is quite conventional and, in my opinion, a good idea. Praying for the victims and their families is certainly a good idea.
I think looking at why these folks were targeted is also a good idea.
“Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman killed, state Sen. John Hoffman injured in targeted shootings. Here’s what we know.”
Kerry Breen, CBS News (June 17, 2025)“…Sources said there was an extensive list of possible targets among writings found in the vehicle — more than 50 individuals, some of them officials beyond Minnesota, including abortion rights advocates and abortion facilities….”
Granted, it’s speculation: but the existence of that list, and its contents, very strongly suggests a particular sort of motive.
Gladness, Regret, Life, and Beliefs
How I feel about that nipped-in-the-bud killing spree is, so far, mostly ‘numb’. Anger and disgust is in the mix, too.
The Hortman family dog, Gilbert, was injured during the attack and is now dead. Then someone broke into the Hortman home. That family is not having a good time.
- “Burglar breaks into Rep. Melissa Hortman’s home in Brooklyn Park”
Kyle Brown, KSTP (June 18, 2025) - “Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman’s beloved dog also shot during attack, euthanized”
Emily Smith, Fox 8 News (June 16, 2025)
Injuries leading to the dog’s death are by far not the most serious charges that “deeply religious” Minnesotan will be facing.
As it is, I’m glad he was found, was arrested, and will very likely be tried on several very serious charges.
I’m also, oddly enough, glad that he’s alive. I’d better say why: and why I regret that Melissa and Mark Hortman are dead.
Taking My Faith Seriously
Basically, it’s because I’m arguably a “deeply religious” person: but not in what I suspect is my culture’s conventional way.
I’ve followed Jesus ever since I can remember, and became a Catholic when I finally realized who currently holds the authority our Lord gave Peter. I take my faith very seriously. “Seriously but not grimly”, as this blog’s tagline says.
That’s why I get to Mass every Sunday, health permitting, have part of each day blocked out for prayer, and have other routines that aren’t typically “American”.
It’s also why I try to act as if what I believe matters.
Among other things, that means I can’t go off on a rant, expressing hopes that the murderer be tortured or at least killed. Praising him as a patriotic Christian American who waged righteous war on those who didn’t agree with him — that’s not an option, either.
Well, I could do either. I have free will. But I won’t.
Each Human Life Matters
I’m glad that the person who apparently committed murders is still alive — and regret that his victims are dead — because I think they’re all human beings.
Since I’m a Catholic, I think that human life is sacred, a gift from God. I think every human life matters: each human life. It doesn’t matter who someone is. A corollary is that suicide is a really bad idea. (Catechism, 2258-2317)
That’s why I am sorry that the Hortmans are dead: and am glad the accused didn’t kill himself, or commit ‘suicide by cop’.
Although I think attacking those folks was wrong, I don’t I think every policy pushed by the victims’ political party is right. Again, it involves how I see human life.
I think human beings are people. ALL human beings. Who we are, what we’ve done, or who our ancestors are, doesn’t matter. Every human being is a person, made “in the image of God”: no matter how young or old, health or sick, that person is. Again, since human life is a gift from God, it’s precious, sacred. (Genesis 1:26–27, 2:7; Catechism, 355-357, 361, 369-370, 1700, 1730, 1929, 2258-2317)
Taking what the Church says seriously means I can’t support capital punishment: because a person who commits what a law code says is a capital crime is still a person. And I can’t support abortion rights because human beings are people, even if we haven’t learn to walk and talk yet.
Euthanasia is another non-starter. I’ve talked about this sort of thing before, and will close with the usual links:
- What I believe
- “Called to Holiness, Not Stupidity” (June 7, 2025)
- “Liberal? Conservative? Republican? Democrat? No: Catholic” (July 27, 2024)
- “Just Who is This Jesus Person, and Who Does He Think He is?” (October 8, 2022)
- The world I live in
- “Minnesota Lawmaker Killed: Too Close to Home” (June 14, 2025)
- “Principles, Priorities, Politics: and Being Catholic” (September 21, 2024)
- “Freedom of Speech: On the Whole, I Like It” (July 6, 2024)
- “Truth, Beauty, and the Evening News” (June 15, 2024)
- Valuing human life
- “Capital Punishment: It Could be Worse” (February 3, 2024)
- “Edited Twins, Genetic Engineering and Bioethics” (March 11, 2023)
- “Couney’s Baby Incubators vs. the Progressive Era” (February 8, 2021)
- “Where Have All the People Gone?” (November 23, 2018)
Here I learned that Bishop Barron is a Minnesota native. Also, while I am no US resident, let alone a Minnesota resident, the thoughtfully calm way you went about this piece is something I think I really need right now, as I really need good reminders about the value of letting God work on and through my words rather than exhaust my already flawed words trying to look cool while trying to prop Him up. So yeah, thank you very much again, Mister Gill!
Yeah: I hadn’t realized/known that Bishop Baron was from Minnesota.
And – 🙂 – thanks about your “thoughtfully calm” remarks. I’m a very emotional man, that’s why what I believe has to make sense no matter how I’m feeling at the moment, and I’m drifting off-topic. Or maybe not so much. I’ve had ample opportunities to learn that using my emotions to decide on actions is risky. They’re very useful for letting me know that something needs decisions: but from there on, THINKING has proven to be a better approach.
Good point – “…letting God work on and through…” whatever is in the kit we’re issued: that, I’ve found is a VERY good idea. And, occasionally, maybe, in the long run, results in us looking cool. Either way, though: a very good idea.