The death of George Floyd and the protests that followed have led to an increased awareness of the reality of racism. The synodal process will show to what extent the Church is listening

Two years on from the brutal murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, on the streets of the US city of Minneapolis by a white police officer, the world has changed. But has the Catholic Church?

Perhaps it is an unfair question. Some Catholic leaders have certainly found the right words. We’ve had statements from cardinals, bishops and the Pope; homilies from priests reminding us that all are equally welcome in the Church and at Mass; and Catholic institutions and groups questioning if they reflect the diversity of the Catholic community. We’ve seen a series of fruitful conversations in one parish in White City in London; and some schools and Catholic organisations – including The Tablet – have had training in race awareness. The Catholic Association for Racial Justice (Carj) has been inundated with requests for help and support. The Church has responded and much of this will encourage further change. The question should not be “have we changed?”, but “have we changed enough?”