Bishop George Murry, SJ of the neighboring Diocese of Youngstown is chairman of the new Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism that was established this week by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, USCCB president, said the committee will focus on addressing the sin of racism in our society and even in the Church and the urgent need to come together as a society to find solutions.
He said after the incidents in Charlottesville, Virginia on Aug. 12 that included marches by the KKK and Neo-Nazis and resulted in the deaths of three people, he established the new committee. ?I am grateful to Bishop Murry for accepting the chairmanship,? he added.
?I look forward to working with my brother bishops as well as communities across the United States to listen to the needs of individuals who have suffered under the sin of racism and together find solutions to this epidemic of hate that has plagued our nation for far too long,? Bishop Murry said.
?Through Jesus? example of love and mercy, we are called to be a better people than what we have witnessed over the past weeks and months as a nation. Through listening, prayer and meaningful collaboration, I?m hopeful we can find lasting solutions and common ground where racism will no longer find a place in our hearts or in our society,? he added.
Almost 40 years ago, the U.S. bishops wrote a pastoral letter on racism. Among the many things discussed was the fact that ?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.?
Cardinal DiNardo said recent events ?have exposed the extent to which the sin of racism continues to inflict our nation. The establishment of this new ad hoc committee will be wholly engaging to the Church and our society to work together in unity to challenge the sin of racism, to listen to persons who are suffering under this sin and to come together in the love of Christ to know one another as brothers and sisters.?
The cardinal issued a statement about what he called ?the evil events? in Charlottesville. ?As sacred Scripture teaches, each one of us is made in the image and likeness of God. The mission of the Church is to teach and to witness to the intrinsic dignity of the human person. Marches by hate groups such as the KKK and Neo-Nazis are outrageous to the sensible mind and directly challenge the dignity of human life. It is time for us to recommit ourselves to eradicating racism,? he said.
?Prejudice can lurk unnoticed in the soul. Without prayerful reflection, it can feed on the fear of what is different. It can grow into overt racism. But self-reflection is not enough. It must lead to action. May the work of the USCCB serve as a call to conversion for those hiding behind white hoods and Nazi symbols. The vile chants of violence against African-Americans and other people of color, the Jewish people, immigrants and others offend our faith, but unite our resolve. Let us not allow the forces of hate to deny the intrinsic dignity of every human person. Let the national world see the one body of Christ move to the defense of our sisters and brothers who are threatened. May today be a new beginning,? Cardinal DiNardo said.
