WE MUST hold each other accountable!
Catholic Christians have an important responsibility to fulfill in our present age. We must have faith in God and with integrity call all people to greater unity and solidarity. God’s promise of love, and God’s law of love, demand that we live and act with love towards all people.
Personally, I am tired of hearing and reading about the racist, discriminatory, and prejudicial actions and words of too many people. Worse is their unwillingness to admit that their behavior is wrong. Even though I am disappointed by the frequency about which I hear of such incidents, it is necessary that someone do the work of reporting such behavior and holding people accountable. WE MUST hold each other accountable!
As a priest who regularly celebrates the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I AM NOT TIRED of hearing confessions in which penitents admit that they have been racist, or acted and spoken with prejudice, and are repentant. In fact, I am surprised that I do not hear such repentance more often. In fact, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have written in an important document on racism in 2018:
“What is needed, and what we are calling for, is a genuine conversion of heart, a conversion that will compel change, and the reform of our institutions and society. Conversion is a long road to travel for the individual. Moving our nation to a full realization of the promise of liberty, equality, and justice for all is even more challenging. However, in Christ we can find the strength and the grace necessary to make that journey,” (Open Wide Our Hearts, USCCB pastoral letter on racism, p. 7).
Of course, the Church itself has admitted, in the words of recent popes and groups of bishops, that she has sinned and must constantly do penance for her evil actions. Just as individuals, so also institutions must admit fault: “Only from a place of humility can we look honestly at past failures, ask for forgiveness, and move toward healing and reconciliation. This requires us to acknowledge sinful deeds and thoughts, and to ask for forgiveness. The truth is that the sons and daughters of the Catholic Church have been complicit in the evil of racism,” (Open Wide Our Hearts, p. 21).
Some cynics call such apologies and admissions of historical fault as a kind of weakness. Of course, cynics refuse to admit any culpability for the current state of racism and prejudice. They lack the humility and courage to admit fault. Such admission of fault is what is necessary for the “genuine conversion of heart” as stated in the bishop’s letter on racism. God forgives! Let us repent!
Peace, Fr. Andy