DENVER - Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver and his auxiliary, Bishop James Conley, offered prayers and support to the victims, survivors and the community after a gunman killed 12 people and wounded 59 more during a July 20 midnight screening of the movie The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colo.

"For those who were killed, our hope is the tender mercy of our God," the bishops said in a joint statement. "'Neither death nor life,' reflected St. Paul, 'can separate us from the love of God.'

"For those who were wounded — physically, emotionally and spiritually — our hope is in their recovery and renewal. To them we offer our prayers, our ears to listen, and our hearts to love. The road to recovery may be long, but in hope we are granted the gift of new life."

Aquila and Conley also prayed for the shooter.

"We hope also for the perpetrator of this terrible crime, and we pray for his conversion. Evil ruled his heart last night," they said July 20. "Only Jesus Christ can overcome the darkness of such evil."

James Holmes, 24, who had been a doctoral student at the University of Colorado before he dropped out, was arrested in connection with the mass shootings. Police said Holmes was still wearing a bulletproof vest in the movie theatre's parking lot when he was apprehended.

Aquila, who celebrated an evening Mass for those affected by the shooting, and Conley said Regina Caeli Counselling Services of Catholic Charities in the archdiocese would offer counselling over the next few weeks to those who need it.

"We look for opportunities to pray with our community," the bishops added. "And we continue to work to support families and communities in forming people of peace."

Joanne Schwartz, executive director of Progress Now Colorado, said: "Today we offer condolences to the families affected, and to all of our neighbours in Aurora as they struggle to cope with this terrible act of violence. And we call on Congress and elected officials at every level to put aside partisan differences, and take action to stop the gun violence that takes place every day across America."

Schwartz noted in her statement that after the Columbine High School slayings, also in Colorado, in 1999, "Republicans and Democrats came together to support closing the 'gun show loophole' by an overwhelming margin: a model of co-operation we should aspire to today."