“Racism is a sin; a sin that divides the human family, blots out the image of God among specific members of that family and violates the fundamental human dignity of those called to be children of the same Father. Racism is the sin that says some human beings are inherently superior and other inherently inferior because of races. It is the sin that makes racial characteristics the determining factor for the exercise of human rights. It mocks the words of Jesus: “Treat others the way you would have them treat you.” Indeed, racism is more than a disregard for the words of Jesus; it is a denial of the truth of the dignity of each human being revealed by the mystery of the Incarnation.” (2)
- Nurturing an environment within our parish that provides equity, diversity, and inclusion for all through opportunities to engage in dialogue, education, and compassionate solidarity
- Identifying where institutionalized racism is in our parish while embracing an openness to reform our policies, practices, and procedures
- Providing opportunities for personal transformation, while working toward systemic change
- Working in collaboration with others in our community to deepen our impact both within our parish and within our larger community
Footnotes
2 U. S. Catholic Bishops; “Brothers and Sisters to Us”; 1979
3 Father Prentice Tipton, Jr., an African American, is an alumnus of The St Paul Seminary School of Divinity of St. Paul. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan, in 2008. He is rector of the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption and pastor of Holy Family, in Saginaw.
4 Umberger, Barb; “Archdiocesan Prayer Services Focuses on Healing Racial Division”; The Catholic Spirit; December 17, 2020
5 Flowers, Hillary; “Intersectionality Part One: Intersectionality Defined;” EDI 365; July 18, 2019
6 Catholic Social Teaching principles: The tenets are Human Dignity (We are all made in God’s image and; therefore, are called to defend the dignity and worth of every human being), Common Good and Call to Community (The well-being of each person is connected to the good of others. As human beings we only truly flourish in the context of community. How we organize our society – in economics and politics, in law and policy – directly affects the capacity of individuals to grow in community.), Option for the Poor and Vulnerable (In a society marred by deepening divisions and inequality, our tradition instructs us to put the needs of the vulnerable first.), and Solidarity (We live and work in solidarity with our sisters and brothers who face the sin of racism each day.)
7 O’Connell, Gerard; “Pope Francis on the death of George Floyd”; America The Jesuit Review; June 3, 2020
8 United States Catholic Conference of Bishops; Catholic Social Teaching Scripture Guide; USCCB; Copyright 2010