Christians Pray after US College Shooting

The clergyman who ministered to families of last October's tragic Amish school shooting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has called on pastors and other church leaders in the US to hold prayer meetings this week for the victims of Monday's mass shooting as other Christians and church leaders added their prayers of support.

|PIC1|The lone gunman, that police have named as student Cho Seung-hui, a 23-year-old from South Korea, killed more than 30 students in the attack, and injured at least 24 others in the deadliest mass shooting in US history at the Virginia Tech university in Blacksburg, Virginia, in the US.

The President of the National Clergy Council, the Rev Rob Schenck, said: "The best and only thing most of us can do for these victims is to offer our prayers for them and their families, mindful of St. Paul's prayer to 'the father of mercies and the God of all comfort'.

"Prayer is not only a powerful healing agent in itself, but it sends a strong message of solidarity with these families."

Schenck, an Evangelical minister, also encouraged Christian leaders and parents to redouble their efforts to foster firm morals among young people: "When kids kill kids, there's something desperately wrong in the culture. No amount of laws, police officers, courts or prisons can stop a murder from happening. Only a conscience built on the fear of God can do that.

"Whether it's teaching the sanctity of life or God's commandment against murder, Christian leaders must tell young people that accountability for doing wrong doesn't stop with death. We will ultimately face God as a righteous judge.

"People who contemplate committing this kind of act need to know that."

Americans have been left stunned by the shootings, which broke out in Virginia Tech's West Ambler Johnston Hall, a dormitory housing some 900 students, at around 7.15am local time on Monday morning. The first incident was followed by more shooting at another campus building, Norris Hall, two hours later.

Members of Virginia Tech's Canterbury House Episcopal Ministry have planned to gather on Wednesday evening for a memorial and healing service.

The Rev Elizabeth Morgan, interim rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Blacksburg, said she was able to check on the small number of students who live at the Canterbury House and all are accounted for. "They're fine," she told the Episcopal News Service.

The US Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said members of the Church were shocked and saddened by the shootings.

"We hold in our prayers the students, faculty, and staff of that institution, their families, and all affected by today's events," she said "As we begin to confront this senseless loss, we will continue to pray for all who grieve and search for understanding," she said.

US President George W Bush said he was praying for the victims and the surviving Virginia Tech community.

"We hold the victims in our hearts. We lift them up in our prayers and we ask a loving God to comfort those who are suffering today," he said.

Virginia Tech University has about 26,000 students, and is situated approximately 240 miles from Washington DC.

Counsellors have been attending distressed students across the campus in the aftermath of the tragedy.