MANCHESTER--On Monday, East Catholic High School in Manchester released a video defending prayer in the wake of the San Bernardino shooting.
The school is calling for an end to 'prayer shaming' and encouraging all people to pray for the victims and for peace.
"We have to be able to understand prayer a little bit more," said East Catholic senior Chris Amata. "We have to be able to go and learn about it a little more. And not just praying to one particular thing, but being able to sit down and pray with each other, for each other, as a community, just to be able to love the world a little more."
Students are looking to challenge the notion that prayer in the wake that the San Bernardino shooting has no purpose. Many, including Sen. Chris Murphy, have spoken out about taking action over praying.
"For us, we believe that prayer is a way to take action," said sophomore Sabrina Williams. "We believe that God is a way to help us take action and that God will help us end all these massacres."
"Prayer is an action," said freshman Jameson Gill. "And they need to realize that, that God will take action if you pray to him. That's the kind of action people need to take instead of guns and violence."
Jason Hartling, East Catholic High School principal and chief administrator, said the school teaches prayer coupled with action. Hartling said students pray for those in need before performing community service.
"Action without prayer is just as hollow as prayer without action," said Hartling.
The video, Hartling hopes, will encourage people to both pray and act. "It's a call to action for the faithful, to pray," explained Hartling. "And we hope that when they pray, they'll also do other things that will contribute to a better society and a more peaceful community."