“They Were Falling Into the Arms of God” — A Catholic Defense of the 9/11 Jumpers

At least 200 people jumped from the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, and America agreed to look away. A Church that hangs the crucifixion over every altar has no business sanitizing that morning.

Sep 11, 2026

∙ Paid

A man falls headfirst from the north tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, in Richard Drew’s photograph known as The Falling Man — A man falls from the north tower of the World Trade Center at 9:41:15 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001. Tom Junod’s 2003 Esquire essay on the photograph gave it the name “The Falling Man.” (Richard Drew / AP)

Thank you for reading! Letters from Leo is a reader-supported publication and the fastest-growing Catholic community in the country. To receive new posts and…

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Christopher Hale.

Or purchase a paid subscription.