LA Catholics remember Floyd,
call for renewed commitment against racism
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| Families participate in a children's march in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement (AFP) |
Archbishop Gomez of Los Angeles celebrates Mass to coincide
with the burial of George Floyd, and calls on Christians to renew their
commitment against racism.
By Vatican News
Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez remembered
the life of George Floyd during a live-streamed Mass in his Cathedral.
“His death is a sad reminder that we have still have a long
way to go in our country to confront the reality of black inequality and the
racism that still infects our institutions," he said.
The Cathedral joined parishes throughout the archdiocese, by
tolling its bells for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time that George
Floyd was held down, as a symbol of solidarity with all honouring his life as
he was laid to rest.
Archbishop Gomez, who is also the President of the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops, prayed for the soul of the African
American man killed by a police officer on 25 May. He urged Christians to help
make America a land of freedom and opportunity for everyone.
During a Mass that coincided with the beginning of Floyd’s
funeral in Houston on Tuesday, Gomez described George Floyd’s death as
heart-breaking and said: “It was wrong. It never should have happened.”
Floyd’s death has triggered a groundswell of outrage and
activism by religious leaders and faith-based groups across the United States,
calling for police reforms and efforts to dismantle racism and discrimination
against African Americans and other minorities.
Pope Francis has prayed for Floyd, offered his support to a
US bishop who knelt in prayer during a Black Lives Matter protest, and warned
against turning a blind eye to racism and discrimination.
In his homily, Archbishop Gomez said: “Today we need to
renew our sense of purpose. We need to commit ourselves again to making America
a land of freedom and opportunity for every person.”
“God does not see black or white. God sees only His
children. And He loves each one of us, no matter what the colour of our skin
is." It is the duty of Christians and Catholics “to bring this truth to
our society,” he added.
Urging his community to “stand together and walk together,
as brothers and sisters,” Gomez spoke of the need to give hope to our children
and create a new culture of virtue and communities of compassion and care, “in
which we cherish our common humanity."
He noted that “America’s founders dreamed of a nation where
men and women from every race, religion and national background could live in
equality, with dignity, and said it is the responsibility of all American
citizens to follow up on that dream."
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