Anti-Racism

To deepen our response to the unrecognized and unreconciled racism past and present within our community.

"...let the Church proclaim to all that the sin of racism defiles the image of God and degrades the sacred dignity of humankind which has been revealed by the mystery of the Incarnation. Let all know that it is a terrible sin that mocks the cross of Christ and ridicules the Incarnation. For the brother and sister of our Brother Jesus Christ are brother and sister to us."

(U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Pastoral, "Brothers and Sisters to Us," 1979)

This calls us to reflect deeply on the racism that we may have allowed in our own attitudes and actions. Acknowledging these patterns and behaviors frees us to act in ways that work to eliminate racism in our lives, our institutions and our ministries.

Mid-Atlantic Community Response
• Critical Concern group engaging in discussions of the articles in the February 2008 issue of
   New Theology Review on Racism
• Support for the Institute initiative on Dismantling Institutional Racism

Links
www.tolerance.org
www.splcenter.org (Southern Poverty Law Center)
www.nopartiality.net
www.crossroadsantiracism.org

Suggested Actions
• Reflect on your own personal racism, prejudice, and bias and pray for a change of heart,
   attitude and action
• Develop a personal awareness of language and racially biased comments or phrases and commit
   to eliminating them
• Seek out opportunities for education or experiential workshops on race, culture, multiculturalism
• Read newspapers, magazines, journals from a variety of racial /ethnic perspectives