By Alison Pope
Associate Director, Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
I am beginning with a disclaimer. I understand that my view on this topic comes from a place of privilege. While life has not always treated me well, my skin color has never been the reason for my struggles. That being said, racism is an issue our people are dealing with today, thus making it a topic that must be addressed.
After the death of George Floyd, Pope Francis sent a strong message to U.S. Catholics condemning the sin of racism and asking us to pay attention to the racism that is happening in our own communities and churches. In that message, Pope Francis reminded us that “We cannot close our eyes to any form of racism or exclusion, while pretending to defend the sacredness of every human life.” Our faith upholds that all humans are created in the image and likeness of God. Part of our responsibility as baptized Christians is to uphold the value that everyone deserves dignity.
It is not simple enough to not be racist. We must have an attitude of anti-racism, meaning we are actively working to eradicate racism not only in our own actions, but in society and institutions. Anti-racism begins by recognizing our own, and our church’s, sins of racism and prejudice.
In 2018, the U.S. Catholic Bishops wrote a pastoral letter against racism entitled Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love. This was not their first pastoral letter addressing this topic; the first was written in the 1970s. When wanting to understand the church’s stance on racism, Open Wide Our Hearts is a good starting point, so that is where we will begin.
“You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mi 6:8). This verse is a simplification of our mission as baptized faithful. Yet, we are reminded that “To do justice requires an honest acknowledgment of our failures” (OWOH, p. 8). If we are truly putting into practice the social justice teachings of the church, we must begin with looking at the ways that our practices, and the practices of the institutions we are part of, are unjust. At times, that is as simple as choosing to speak up instead of remaining silent when we see racial injustice occurring. “Too often, racism comes in the form of the sin of omission, when individuals, communities, and even churches remain silent and fail to act against racial injustice when it is encountered” (OWOH, p. 4). When we choose to stay silent about racial injustice, or even claim that church is not the place to discuss the issue, we are guilty of that sin of omission.
This means in our ministries we must first acknowledge the way we have failed. Are we truly inclusive in our ministries and aware of how best to include those of all races while honoring their history and culture? Or does our inclusion end at saying “All are welcome!” but then not having our ministry truly reflect the multi-culturalism of our communities? Do we address the topic of racial injustice and racism, or do we contribute to the sin of racism by remaining silent? “All too often, leaders of the Church have remained silent about the horrific violence and other racial injustices perpetuated against African Americans and others” (OWOH, p. 22). If we are truly leaders, we must lead the way in speaking out against the violence and racial injustices our brothers and sisters of color suffer.
We must also remember that racism is a pro-life issue. “Too many good and faithful Catholics remain unaware of the connection between institutional racism and the continued erosion of the sanctity of life” (OWOH, p. 10). When we do a pro-life session in our ministries, do we include a variety of pro-life topics — racism, immigration, anti-death penalty — or do we simply focus on anti-abortion? We must remember that being pro-life involves a variety of issues and make sure we are bringing all of them to light in that context. (I must borrow from my friend, Emily Wilson Hussem, here and use her puppies and bunnies analogy. When I say that puppies are cute, I am simply stating that fact. It does not mean that I think bunnies are not cute, it simply means that it not the issue we are talking about here. Yes, anti-abortion is an important pro-life issue, but that is the not the issue I am addressing in this article. Puppies and bunnies.)
In addressing racism in our church, we must also be open to hearing the hard stories of how people have experienced racism. “We must create opportunities to hear, with open hearts, the tragic stories that are deeply imprinted on the lives of our brothers and sisters” (OWOH, p. 10). Do we take time to listen to the stories of others and validate their experiences and feelings? We must provide a safe space for our brothers and sisters of color to share their experiences of racism and prejudice. We can also learn from their stories how we, individually and collectively, can better address issues of racial injustice. We can also learn how, at times unknowingly, our own actions contribute to an attitude of superiority.
“The truth that we must face is straightforward. When one culture meets another, lack of awareness and understanding often leads to grossly distorted value judgments and prejudice. This prejudice fuels attitudes of superiority that are embedded in, and reinforced by, social structures and laws. This is evident in how white European immigrants and pioneers acted in their encounters with Native Americans; it is equally evident in the treatment of Africans who were enslaved and brought to the shores of America” (OWOH, p. 13). In listening to the stories of those who have experienced racism, it can help to make us more aware of those structures and laws that need to be addressed in order to bring about justice. We can then act on that by advocating and using our vote in a way that brings about needed change and justice. Prayer and dialogue alone are not sufficient. There must be action to bring about change.
We must address the issue of racism and racial injustices within our communities and as a community of faith. This will mean different things for different communities, but no community is exempt. It may mean anti-racism training at all levels — from religious education to priestly formation. It may mean changing how we have done things in the past. We can no longer act from the framework of a European immigrant church. We must get out of our pocket of isolation and recognize the fact that we are an intercultural church. That recognition must lead to incorporating other cultures and their expression of our Catholic faith in all aspects of our ministries and liturgies. We must remember that the most welcoming way is not necessarily the most efficient way. For some of us, it may mean learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It is not about my parish or my faith, but our parish and our faith. We must stop asking who has the biggest population and must start allowing all communities — regardless of size — to feel welcome. And we must remember that it is not our place to decide what is welcoming, but that determination is left solely to those we are trying to welcome.
It means engaging in the task of educating our conscience. If I hear that an idea, policy, or action is a racist one even though it may not seem racist to me, as a morally responsible Catholic, I should be open to listening to and researching how racism might play a role in that idea, action, or policy. Anti-racism is not simply a commitment to saying, “I will not say or do racist things.” It is a combination of continually fighting racism within myself, practicing the actions of racial equality in my life, and fighting against the evil of racism in all its forms within society — including seeking to bring about racial justice where racial injustice is present.
As a church, it is time to ask uncomfortable questions of ourselves. Do our ministries truly include and welcome all people? How are we prompting tolerance and inclusion in the Body of Christ? Faithful and responsive ministry promotes the skills, attitudes, and behaviors that are needed to be disciples and Christian leaders in our diverse church and society. Our ministry offerings must provide education, spiritual formation, and open and honest reflections on the issues of our time, including racism, privilege, and prejudice.
Even though the church has wonderful teachings, wonderful resources in print, if we’re not willing to struggle with these communities, how do we say we’re relevant to them and that we care about them? We must transform our church into an active force for justice and a solace when the world seems to tell people of color they do not matter. And this work must begin now.
Note: To read a copy of Open Wide Our Hearts, or to find other anti-racism resources, including a free webinar series, go to https://nfcym.org/resources/topics/combating-racism/.
A free study guide for Open Wide Our Hearts is available at https://www.usccb.org/resources/openwide-our-hearts-study-guide.