LOVE ONE ANOTHER
We will be using this space to share information, readings, reflections, and actions that all can use to help bring healing and justice to our communities.
The following is an excerpt from a statement by the Catholic Bishops of Illinois entitled "Moving Beyond Racism: Learning to See with the Eyes of Christ."
"Conversion changes individuals, and individuals change society. Overcoming the sin of racism begins by opening ourselves to God's Spirit, who draws all to holiness. The Spirit makes each of us a member of the Body of Christ, and this spiritual relationship is the source of our hope for personal and social change. In Christ, we recognize racism as s division contrary to his will for his people, a division the Spirit will heal."
Here are some actions, some small and some larger, which all can take:
- Pray for an end to racism.
- Take a personal inventory of your own heart and discover what has to change.
- Seek opportunities to know and learn from a person of a different race.
- Identify racist behavior in our community, speak with others and make plans to oppose it.
- Refuse to use biased language and to tell jokes tinged with racist attitudes.
- Avoid investing in companies which support or practice racist policies and tell the company why you are withdrawing your money.
- Elect public officials who work for racial justice.
- Join community groups, which nurture relationships of trust among peoples of different races and ethnic groups.
- Be critical of how violent crime is focused on and reported; ask media people to publicize good people and actions in every racial group.
- Help your parish sponsor workshops which both present racism in all its complexity and evaluate it morally.
- Help organize ecumenical prayer services inclusive of different racial and ethnic groups.
- Speak and live the truth that you acquire by seeing with the eyes of Christ.