Catholic groups call on church to confront ‘institutional racism’

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Thirteen Catholic organizations today released a statement calling on the Catholic Church to confront the “institutional racism that continues to plague our society”.

Organizations including the Women Religious Leadership Conference and the Conference of Major Men Superiors are calling on their communities to commit to five things: training for racial solidarity; creating space for “truth and reconciliation in our homes, organizations and parishes”; training in “non-violent conflict transformation; promoting “unarmed civilian peacekeeper” programs; and requiring “de-escalation” training for police officers.

The statement, titled ‘We Cry Out for Racial Justice in the United States,’ comes the day after Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, head of a special racism task force for the USCCB, called his brother bishops to issue a statement of their own on racism.

“A statement from all of the bishops on racism is increasingly important at this time,” Gregory said.

He urged the administrative committee of bishops in the country, “in collaboration with the relevant permanent commissions, to do everything in their power to expedite the drafting and approval of the declaration on racism currently envisaged in the 2017 strategic plan. -2020, given the urgency of the moment.”

He said the president of the episcopal conference and relevant committees should “identify opportunities for a more near-term statement on these issues, especially in the context of post-election uncertainty and disaffection.”

He also encouraged prayer, ecumenical and interreligious collaboration, dialogue, parish and diocesan conversations and formation, and opportunities for encounter.

At a press conference that followed his afternoon presentation and closed the first day of the Bishops’ Assembly, Gregory expressed concern for communities that have been disrupted by violence and riots after police shootings earlier this summer. Some of these communities are experiencing reactions and tensions caused by the election results, he said.

“It is the hope of the task force, of people of goodwill, that the protests do not turn violent,” he said.

American society has the ability to voice opinions on social issues through various forms of expression, including protest, but “what we pray for is that these expressions of frustration do not provide another vehicle for violence”.

Gregory expressed hope that the church can help foster dialogue and bring healing by working with communities for lasting peace.

“The disruption (of) communities that triggered the creation of the task force has been going on for at least two years,” he said. “The violence against people of color has been going on for well over two years. … The reaction to the election, it added to that tension.”

He said he prayed and hoped that “expressions of frustration, anger, disapproval” will not continue to disrupt the social fabric of these communities.

The full statement “We Cry Out for Racial Justice in the United States” can be read below:

As Catholic organizations committed to building God’s beloved community, we confess our own complicity and that of our organizations and our Catholic Church in the institutional racism that continues to plague our society. We have failed our black and brown brothers and sisters. We are guilty of conscious and unconscious discrimination and recognize that we have exhibited racist attitudes and behaviors in our personal lives and in the structures, policies, practices and procedures of our organizations.

As organizations, we have been moved by the courage of high school and college students, parents, professional athletes and others in local communities large and small who have taken a bold stand for racial justice. We support your commitment to justice and thank you for taking nonviolent actions that have sparked important conversations about our struggle to recognize and value the dignity of every person in our society.

We thank you for inviting us to reclaim the values ​​of human dignity and equality that are the foundation of our country. We admire your courage and your creativity and for the challenge you offer to each of us. We know that Jesus modeled even more courage and love for all, even his enemies. We pray for the strength to commit to more fully living out the nonviolent love of Jesus, especially in light of the racial and systemic injustice that continues to plague our communities.

We invite our communities to seriously consider committing to 1) participate in racial solidarity training; 2) create spaces of truth and reconciliation in our homes, organizations and parishes; 3) engaging in non-violent conflict transformation training; 4) promote unarmed civilian peacekeeping programs in our communities; and 5) requiring ongoing substantive de-escalation training for police officers.

It is time to adopt a new paradigm that values ​​cooperation rather than competition; that values ​​transparent communication, accountability, power sharing and responsibility; and encourages holistic thinking that welcomes all points of view.

To you our brothers and sisters who stand up to the abuse of power – continue to protest, dialogue, and embrace nonviolent action to bring attention to the injustices that are too much a part of the fabric of our American way of life. We are with you.

Worshipers of the Blood of Christ, United States Region
Catholics in alliance for the common good
Columban Center for Advocacy and Awareness
Conference of Major Superiors of Men
Faith in Public Life, Catholic Program
Franciscan Action Network
Religious Women Leadership Conference
Missionaries of the Precious Blood Province of Kansas City
Good Shepherd Sisters National Advocacy Center
Pax Christi International
Pax Christi United States
Clerks of Saint-Viateur Provincial Council
Expanded Justice Team of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

[Catholic News Service contributed to this report.]

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