USCCB statement on racism a reminder to reach out to others

Friday, Jun. 19, 2015

By Paul White, Ph.D., O.P.

Diocese of Salt Lake City Peace and Justice Commission member

Friends and family know that I care deeply about issues related to social justice. Those concerns do not stem just from my profession as a social psychologist studying behaviors and cognitions connected with attitudes, prejudice and stereotyping, but from my Catholic faith. As such, I was pleased yet somewhat saddened by the statement on race relations released last week by Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, president of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. (See the index for the full statement.)

The statement itself is a very good step in the continuing journey of creating a society in which people will be given the respect and dignity that all of us deserve as God’s children. This is our call and mission based on Catholic social teaching. The seven basic themes of Catholic social justice all touch upon this mission (I would argue that even “Care for God’s creation” connects with treating people with respect, as we are God’s creation). 

Archbishop Kurtz echoes those themes with the five suggestions by “which the Catholic community can commit to ending racism and promoting peace, justice and respect for all persons.” This is good a reminder that we need to commit to this mission, and that it does take work, take action from us to achieve a more equitable and peaceful society. As Archbishop Kurtz mentioned, we need to keep in mind Blessed Pope Paul VI’s teaching that if we want peace, we must be willing to work for justice.

This reminder, along with a brief history regarding the role that the Catholic Church has played to improve race relations in the United States, makes the statement a necessary read for not just Catholics, but all in our society, especially those in social and political leadership positions. It may surprise people to know about integrated Catholic schools before Brown v. Kansas in 1954, or that Catholics played a role in the Selma March in 1965. 

As I know in my professional life, and personal one, there are many things that can create separation, cause tension, lead to mistrust and violence (physically/psychologically), and keep people from seeing and treating “others” as a sister or brother. It can be easy to let things split us apart or discourage us in our work for justice. 

However, the statement points out that we are to move beyond those barriers and strive toward the goals of reconciliation and peace, with trust in the Lord and the Holy Spirit as our guides. 

These are lofty and admirable goals for us to reach. What saddens me is not the fear of hard work or failure to reach the goals, but that many of us must be reminded of the work, that it is important for us to be involved, and for us to care about those we deem as “other.” The events over the past year with police and Blacks have been discussed in ways that make it seem new or very shocking that this takes place in our society. Alas, for many of us, these are not novel or surprising events. Such encounters with police or others in authority (of the same or different ethnicity) have taken place for many years. I recall not long after Sept. 11, 2001, taking part in a Catholic small group to discuss what we could do to provide help and guidance to others locally. At the meeting, a priest mentioned that part of the reaction people were having is due to this being the first major terrorist attack in the U.S. However, he, and others, quickly understood when I responded that many underrepresented groups (based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class, etc.) have experienced terror in our society for centuries with little help or acknowledgment from those in power.

Furthermore, in the statement, Archbishop Kurtz references the 1979 pastoral letter that called racism a “grave sin” and acknowledged that it existed not only in society, but also in the Catholic Church at that time. 

Again, these are not new teachings in our faith tradition. Over the past 36 years, things have improved, but also they have changed in ways that may make it harder to see how others are not treated with respect and justice. We need to remember that prejudice, which is not the same as racism, also does harm to the Body of Christ. 

I hope the current USCCB statement serves as a constant reminder that all of us need to reach out to others within our communities, not just those who look or think or believe like us.

Overall, the statement does give me courage and hope as I move forward on my journey in life. I pray that it does for you, as well, and that we can all walk together as God’s family.

Paul White, Ph.D., O.P.

Diocese of Salt Lake City Peace and Justice Commission member