By Jayd Henricks
The murder of Charlie Kirk was not just that of a brilliant mind, a husband, and a father; it was an attempt to murder the truth. It was an attempt to destroy a movement of young adults committed to public discourse on the essential truths of humanity. And it was also an attempt to end civility.
This does not mean that everything Charlie said was true; I don’t think that can be claimed of any of us. But Charlie Kirk entered the arena of ideas with more bravery, depth, courtesy, and faith than almost anyone else in the current public space, and that’s why he had such a strong following among young people. He was different.
As far as I could see, he did not use the inflammatory language so common in today’s public discourse. He was, without a doubt, a staunch conservative and a man of genuine faith, with solid convictions and an almost supernatural gift for debate, all of which led him to his death. But his conservatism was not ideological or partisan. It arose from a well-reasoned conviction.
The loss of Charlie Kirk, at the hands of another practitioner of the culture of death, is a tragedy for the country, as he, more than anyone, sincerely tried to model civil discourse and respectful debate in the public sphere. His distinctive trait was using the word, with patience and kindness, not violence, to address divisive issues. One could disagree with him, but Charlie genuinely listened and then responded.
The assassin, and those who rejoice that Charlie Kirk is no longer in the public scene, do not understand that what was attacked was not so much a man as the idea that truth is more powerful than a bullet.
This type of violence is a tacit confession that falsehoods do not have enough strength to confront the truth. It is cowardice, but it is also the fruit of the failure of the lie. Yes, there is a profound loss with Charlie’s death, but the truth he relentlessly pursued cannot be murdered. In the end, the truth will triumph.
Just tell the truth to defeat evil. This, I hope, is part of Charlie’s legacy. The best way to respond to this tragedy is with the truth, because the light of truth is what destroys the lie, even the violent lie.
We are living through a dangerous historical moment. The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East threaten lives and peace around the world. The cold civil war that exists in our country is intensifying and threatens widespread violence. Saying obvious truths has become increasingly dangerous.
And yet, each of us has the obligation to tell the truth. We may not do it with Charlie’s wit, but we must be willing to risk everything for the truth. We must commit ourselves to the truth with the certainty that, even in death, the truth will prevail. Just say it, and evil and the lie will be defeated.
We are in a serious struggle for our freedoms and our culture, and the murder of Charlie Kirk seems to be a turning point. Where do we go from here? There is a danger that his death will trigger more violence. The outrage over his death is certainly justified, but violence will not prevail. The virtues that Charlie embodied are what is needed now: patience and kindness with a firm commitment to the truth.
Unfortunately, the open—and sometimes violent—hostility toward people of traditional faith in this country is becoming the new normal. Yes, there are examples of conservatives who behave badly, but it is evident that the violence brewing in our country is directed against those who profess a traditional faith.
We are not facing systematic persecution like that of Nero, but the persecution is real, however. Lives are being lost, but the culture of death is destructive in other ways as well. My two teenage sons were admirers of Charlie Kirk. On Wednesday, they lost their innocence. Now they know that holding ideas that conflict with progressive leftism means they too are hated, and that hatred can turn violent.
Ultimately, of course, the only possible response is an unwavering commitment to the truths of the Gospel. Belonging to God allows us to defeat the lie and deception. Charlie Kirk was a Christian and spoke openly about his faith. We are learning that his wife attended daily Mass, and that Charlie sometimes accompanied her. His murder cannot be separated from the fact that he had a deep and personal faith.
Christian faith is not safe. It demands a commitment to the truth that requires sacrifice. Let us hope not the sacrifice of one’s own life, but our life must be oriented toward the eternal, and that demands a commitment to the truth. If necessary, the commitment of a martyr.
Let us pray that Charlie’s life inspires more people to courageously commit to the truth, no matter the risk.
About the author:
Jayd Henricks is president of Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal and former executive director of Governmental Relations at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.