Combatting racism

St. Louise Response to Racism
In the wake of the death of so many African American men and women as a result of systemic racism, we as Catholics are called to hear the cry of the oppressed and stand against racism in all its forms.  Many are asking, what can I do? 

1. Prayer

• Stations of the cross for overcoming racism can be found here
• Prayer to address the sin of racism can be found here
• A list of justice-centered Bible passages that can be used for prayer and reflection can be found here.
• Fr. Josh Johnson invites us to pray a decade of the rosary with him and Tara Winder for the intention of reconciliation, you can listen here

2. Educate yourself

• Want to see a short video that explains systemic racism?  Link can be found here 
• Read the UN finding on racism in the US.  It can be found here
• Want to know more about the history and contributions of Catholic African American culture? The Smithsonian has put together a short, excellent resource which can be found here
• Open Wide Our Hearts, the U.S. Bishops' recent statement against racism released in November 2018, and these resources and study guides can help Catholics learn more about how to work together to dismantle racism in our hearts, families, and communities. Here is a short video with the Top 5 Lessons from the Pastoral Letter Against Racism.
• Watch Bishop Barron's video on Why Martin Luther King Jr. Still Matters.
• Talk with your children and your family about race.  Here is a link to educational resources for kindergardeners through adults.
• Watch Fr. Mike Schmitz as he sits down with Fr. Josh Johnson to discuss racial division in the Church and how Catholics can strive to restore unity in the Body of Christ.
• The Archdiocese has also complied a list of resources here.

3. Take Action ​​​​​​

• As Catholics, we are called to build the kingdom of God here and now.  Here is a link to an article with actions Catholics can take now.
• Speak up to everyday bigotry.  Talk to your family, friends, coworkers and classmates about racism. Here are examples of responses to many social, work and family senarios in which we can speak truth.
• Gather a group of friends and host a small group discussion of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from a Birmingham Jail.  The USCCB offers a discussion guide to help you in your conversation.
• Do some soul searching and go deep.  Take stock of how/when you have been complicit in racism.  Use this reflection to help you discern these times in your life.

Statements from leadership

• Statement from Archbishop Etienne on racism can be found here. 
• Statement from Archbishop Wilton Gregory on George Floyd's death can be found here.
• Statements from the USCCB on George Floyd's death and protests can be found here and here.
• Statement from Pope Francis can be found here

“I have consistently preached that nonviolence demands that the means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek. I have tried to make clear that it is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends. But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or perhaps even more so, to use moral means to preserve immoral ends.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.,  Letter from the Birmingham Jail