People struggling in aftermath of Aurora shooting can find comfort in faith, chaplain says

Our take: Pastor Gino Geraci, chaplain for the Denver division of the FBI, was a first responder in the 1999 Columbine high school shooting and at the recent shootings in Aurora, Colo. Geraci noted that the effects of such trauma can be physical, spiritual and emotional for victims, residents and responders alike, leading to issues like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as people deal with what they experienced and wrestle with very human questions of mortality, good and evil. Faith plays a major role in healing, Geraci said, by providing a perspective of love and eternity that helps people better deal with what they experienced.

A strong faith in God can play an important role for law enforcement officers struggling to deal with the aftermath of the recent mass shooting in Aurora, Colo., said a chaplain who has experience ministering to those involved in tragic killings.

There is a kind of spiritual journey that takes place, said Gino Geraci, who serves as a chaplain for the Denver division of the FBI.

A Christian pastor, Geraci has had significant experience dealing with law enforcement officers and experiences of tragedy and trauma. He was a first responder in the 1999 Columbine high school shooting and to the recent movie theater shootings that left 12 dead and 58 injured.

Geraci spoke with CNA on July 20, shortly after returning from the Century 16 Theater in Aurora, Colo., where one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history took place.

Read more about faith helping survivors deal with trauma on Catholic News Agency.