The Catholic bishops of England and Wales decried the evil of racism and the brutal killing of George Floyd in a strongly-worded statement of solidarity with campaigners for racial justice in the USA.
In the message signed by Bishop Declan Lang, the lead bishop for international affairs, and Bishop Paul McAleenan, lead bishop for racial justice, the Bishops’ Conference also condemned systemic racism in the UK.
This systemic racism, they say, is apparent in the disproportionate harm suffered by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people (BAME) during the Covid pandemic.
Catholics have a responsibility to promote racial justice, the bishops write, adding: “Whenever we ignore racism or dismiss BAME people’s experience of it, we are complicit in violations of human dignity.
“We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the USA as they challenge the evil of racism and the brutal killing of George Floyd. As the US Bishops made clear, we cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy, and justice.”
They continue: “Systemic racism is embedded in our own society. The disproportionate harm suffered by BAME people throughout the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted profound inequalities, marginalisation and injustice here in the UK. The peaceful Black Lives Matter protests taking place in our towns and cities this week reflect the understandable anger that so many people feel about this.”
In a statement last week the Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ) called for anti-racist training to be part of every profession, and to be on school curricula.
Mrs Yogi Sutton, chair of CARJ, said: "I want to call on people around the world, especially Catholics because we believe and profess that we are all made in the image and likeness of our Creator, that we are all sisters and brothers in Christ, to speak up for justice by acknowledging racism in all its forms. Any addict will tell you that there is no cure until one accepts that one is an addict. In the same way, we must acknowledge that we are racist. If and when we genuinely understand and accept this, then we will face the road to solutions.”
Loading ...
