Our Mission
To combat the sin of racism through education and spiritual healing in the Catholic Christian community with the ultimate goal of societal and cultural transformation by the power of Christian love.
Archdiocesan Committee for Racial Equality & Justice
Acknowledging the Sin of Racism
Webinar streamed on Tuesday, June 14th
Please advance the video to 4:30 ( four minutes and 30 seconds to begin viewing). Thank you for your interest.
About Us
English
In August 2019, Bishop Rodriguez, Deacon Clarence McDavid, and Sister Marion Weinzapfel, csj. along with several other community members made a pilgrimage to Montgomery, Alabama to visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the Lynching Museum, and the Resurrection Catholic Missions of the South, Inc. Upon their return from that enlightening experience, the group created a team to educate others about the issue of racism in our church and the broader community. With the blessing of Archbishop Aquila, the committee was formally established.
This discussion is important because as Archbishop Aquila stated, “figuring out how to love those who have suffered from racism requires knowing the historical experience of various groups and how they have been treated and their present-day struggles. It also requires examining our own hearts and actions.”
Espanol
En agosto de 2019, el Obispo Rodríguez, el Diácono Clarence McDavid y la Hermana Marion Weinzapfel, csj. junto con varios otros miembros de la comunidad hicieron una peregrinación a Montgomery, Alabama, para visitar el Monumento Nacional por la Paz y la Justicia, conocido informalmente como el Museo del Linchamiento, y las Misiones Católicas de la Resurrección del Sur, Inc. A su regreso de esa experiencia esclarecedora, el grupo creó un equipo para educar a otros sobre el tema del racismo en nuestra iglesia y en la comunidad en general. Con la bendición del Arzobispo Aquila, se estableció formalmente el comité.
Este debate es importante porque, como declaró el arzobispo Aquila, “para saber cómo amar a los que han sufrido el racismo es necesario conocer la experiencia histórica de varios grupos y cómo han sido tratados, así como sus luchas actuales. También requiere examinar nuestros propios corazones y acciones”.
Resources
An Examination of Conscience for Racism
by Fr. Randy Dollins, The Denver Catholic, 2020
A Prayer to Overcome Racism
The Denver Catholic, 2020
Jesus Desires to Heal Wounds of Racism
By Archbishop Aquila, The Denver Catholic, 2020
Dear White Catholics: It’s Time To Be Anti-Racist and Leave White Fragility Behind
Andrew Lyke, American Magazine, 2020
Open Wide Our Hearts the Enduring Call to Love
– Pastoral Letter Against Racism by Archbishop Aquila, 2018
Open Open Wide Our Hearts the Enduring Call to Love
– A pastoral letter against racism:
Racism & Housing
Open Open Wide Our Hearts the Enduring Call to Love
– A pastoral letter against racism:
Racism & Economic Inequality
Open Open Wide Our Hearts the Enduring Call to Love
– A pastoral letter against racism:
Racism & Employment
Charlottesville and America’s Original Sin
Bishop Barron, Word on Fire, 2017
In My Own Words
by Thea Bowman, Compiled and edited by Maurice J. Nutt, C.Ss. R., Liguori, 2009
“The Danger of a Single Story”
By Chimamanda Adichie, TED, 2009
The author Chimamanda Adichie is talking about the danger of a single story. She does a beautiful job of demonstrating the importance of storytelling, but also the importance of not placing people into one homogenous story/group. She speaks as an African woman who has had to challenge people’s single story of what being African means.
Timeline of Black Catholic History
by Cyprian Davis, US. Catholic, 2008
Segregated Housing and the Racial Wealth Gap
by Lary Adelman, Race Power of An Illusion, 2003
In the Beginning, There Were Black Catholics
Interview with Fr. Cyprian Davis, US Catholic, 1993
What We Have Seen and Heard
U.S. Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter on Evangelization, 1984
Sr. Thea Bowman’s Address to the U.S. Bishop’s Conference
USCCB, June 1984
Open Wide Our Hearts: “Consciously or subconsciously, this attitude of superiority can be seen in how certain groups of people are vilified, called criminals, or are perceived as being unable to contribute to society, even unworthy of its benefits. Racism is institutional when practices or traditions are upheld that treat certain groups of people unjustly.”
The film, True Justice, is an hour and 40 minutes long. This film provides a gripping, comprehensive view of the work of Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative, based in Montgomery, Alabama. By watching the film you’ll have a clearer understanding of how the basic underlying dynamics of systemic racism, beginning in American chattel slavery, have shifted in form over time, but have continued through to today. The full film is provided by the Kunhardt Film Foundation at the link below:
What 100 years of History tells us about Racism in policing
ACLU, Dec. 11, 2020
