tvc.dsj.org | March 5, 2019
17
COMMENTARY
U.S. Bishops Confront Racism and Call Us To Brotherhood
By Tony Magliano
Internationally syndicated social jus-
tice and peace columnist
[email protected]
“See what love the Father has bestowed on us that
we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are.”
With these beautiful words from Scripture (1 Jn. 3:1),
the U.S. Catholic bishops introduce us to their recent
pastoral letter against racism titled, “Open wide our
hearts: the enduring call to love.”
Just think about it. The almighty God is not a dis-
tant slave master, but a close loving father who calls
us his children. That is a truly awesome thought!
“Yet so we are.”
Thus, no matter what religion we claim or don’t
claim, no matter what our nationality is, no matter
what our ethnic heritage might be, and no matter
what color we are or race we belong to, we all equally
share one loving father.
And that unmistakably means that all of us are
brothers and sisters!
Imagine how wonderful the world would be if
only we would truly take this sacred teaching to
heart, and with every thought, word and deed put
it into practice.
But sadly, this is often not the case. Instead, over
and over again many people negatively judge count-
less other people according to their skin color and/
or what nation they or their ancestors are originally
from. This is racism. And racism is always ugly and
immoral.
The bishops write, “Racism comes in many forms.
It can be seen in deliberate, sinful acts. In recent times,
we have seen bold expressions of racism by groups as
well as individuals. The re-appearance of symbols of
hatred, such as nooses and swastikas in public places,
is a tragic indicator of rising racial and ethnic animus”
(see: https://nyti.ms/2UYzB7k).
“...let’s pray, educate ourselves on
racism, talk with people in minority
groups about their experiences,
befriend persons of different races
and ethnic backgrounds, lobby
to increase refugee admissions,
and vote for politicians who
are committed to pursuing
policies of racial/ethnic equality
and comprehensive and just
immigration reform legislation.”
Drawing forth specific examples of racism, the
bishops highlight the fact that often Hispanics and
African Americans “face discrimination in hiring,
housing, educational opportunities, and incarcera-
tion. Racial profiling frequently targets Hispanics
for selective immigration enforcement practices, and
African Americans, for suspected criminal activity.”
The bishops critically say, “Extreme nationalist
ideologies are feeding the American public discourse
with xenophobic rhetoric that instigates fear against
foreigners, immigrants and refugees. Finally, 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.”
Why do so many white people of faith remain
largely silent about racism?
I don’t think it’s because most white believers are
prejudiced against African-Americans, Native Ameri-
cans, Hispanics, Muslims or any other minority.
Rather, as with other social justice and peace issues,
it’s a matter of “out of sight, out of mind.”
So as a corrective to this serious inattentiveness,
let’s pray, educate ourselves on racism, talk with
people in minority groups about their experiences,
befriend persons of different races and ethnic back-
grounds, lobby to increase refugee admissions, and
vote for politicians who are committed to pursuing
policies of racial/ethnic equality and comprehensive
and just immigration reform legislation.
A thoughtful reading of “Open wide our hearts:
the enduring call to love” would be time well spent
(see: https://bit.ly/2AadwJo).
And let us commit ourselves to praying and work-
ing for a society and world where as Rev. Martin
Luther King, Jr said, “People will not be judged by the
color of their skin, but by the content of their charac-
ter,” and where all persons recognize each other as
brothers and sisters who are all equally loved by the
same divine Father.
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