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America Under Attack: Cardinal Mahoney Speaks on Today's Terrorist Attack

Aired September 11, 2001 - 20:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, as we all know, New Yorkers wake up to a completely different landscape here tomorrow. Public schools closed. The stock market closed. All flights in this country, domestic and international, postponed at least until noon tomorrow, maybe even longer than that.

Let's check back in with Wolf Blitzer who also has some more insights right now.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Paula, I'm sitting in the Washington bureau, as is Cardinal Roger Mahoney, the archbishop of Los Angeles. He joins us now.

Cardinal Mahoney, explain to us, explain to our viewers what has happened today.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONEY, ARCHBISHOP OF LOS ANGELES: Well, I think the very soul of our country has been severely tested. There has obviously been a great wound inflicted upon us, and there is great, great uncertainty in people's mind. There's great anguish. There's great outcry. But there is a numbness and emptiness, and I think when the president called upon us to reach into the inner depths of our being and find that source of light, I think he has given us the insight we need.

We in this country are people who by and large believe in God, we are people who believe in prayer. I think this is the time, this is the moment when we need to rally our sense of belief, our unity as a people who believes and trusts in God.

BLITZER: As we speak, Cardinal Mahoney, we are take a look at the videotape of the devastation at the Pentagon not very far from where we are sitting right now. When parents will try to explain this evil that occurred today, how should they explain that to their children?

MAHONEY: Well, I think this is a precious moment for parents and families this evening, because I think children will be particularly terrified as they see all these horrible things unfold on television.

I think parents need to gather their children, I think they need to gather the family, and whatever faith tradition they might have, they need to link today with their scripture, with the Bible, the Hebrew scriptures, the Koran -- whatever belief system that they have, this is an excellent moment to do it.

I think also something that is significant today, as I drove over to the CNN headquarters tonight, and the city is quite dark. It occurred to me that terrorists live in darkness. And they -- their evil deeds, they do not wish those to be seen. So, I say to parents tonight, you gather your family, get out a candle. If you have a candle, light the candle as a family and let the children in the family see the hope that is in that light.

And I'm hopeful that the president is going to declare a day of prayer this week hopefully for all us to come together in our various faiths, communities. But just as the terrorists tried through darkness to bring down the spirit of our people, I would love to see people light a candle in their home, maybe put one in their front window. Let that light of hope and trust in God's providence in our lives, let that shine across our country tonight and tomorrow.

BLITZER: Cardinal Roger Mahoney, the archbishop of Los Angeles, thank you so much for those words.

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