❓WHAT HAPPENED: California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) mocked the “power of prayer” after a mass shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where children were praying at the time of the attack.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gavin Newsom, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and other Democrats.
📍WHEN & WHERE: California, following the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church by a transgender gunman in Minneapolis this week.
💬KEY QUOTE: “These children were literally praying as they got shot at.” – Gavin Newsom
🎯IMPACT: Newsom’s thoughtless comments have sparked backlash and debates about faith, prayer, and gun control legislation.
In the aftermath of the recent mass shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that left two young children dead and 17 others wounded, Democrat leaders have sparked backlash for mocking prayer in the wake of the tragedy. Notably, California Governor Gavin Newsom mockingly responded to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s comments on the “power of prayer” by posting on X (formerly Twitter): “These children were literally praying as they got shot at.”
The remark drew strong condemnation from conservatives and faith leaders. However, Democrat Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey struck a similar tone to Newsom, telling reporters, “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school, they were in a church.” Frey exploited the moment to call for more gun control, despite Minnesota already having red flag laws on the books.
Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester, a native of Minnesota, slammed Frey’s remarks as “completely asinine,” explaining: “To claim that because children were praying and were not delivered from harm means that prayer is ineffective is to misunderstand the purpose of prayer completely.”
“These kids died in a church. They died as martyrs. That should never be mocked,” he added.
Vice President J.D. Vance also weighed in, calling the reaction from Democrats “shocking and bizarre,” and defending prayer as a source of hope, not a shield from all harm.
The shooter, a transgender who decorated his weapons with Satanic pentagrams and remarks such as ‘Where is your God?’, has been identified as having posted anti-Catholic rhetoric online before the attack.
Governor Newsom has a history of clashing with religious groups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration banned even small religious gatherings in private homes, a move later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, despite holding questionable gatherings himself. He has also promoted California as an abortion tourism destination, offering taxpayer-funded travel to women from states with pro-life laws.
These children were literally praying as they got shot at. https://t.co/H7RGZhCTFc
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 28, 2025
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