US Bishops: Racism not a
thing of the past
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| Flowers, balloons, and signs at a makeshift memorial to George Floyd, near the spot where he was killed by a Minnespolis policeman (AFP) |
Saying they are “broken-hearted, sickened, and outraged to
watch another video of an African American man being killed before our very
eyes”, leaders of the USCCB call for the “real and present danger” of racism to
be met head on.
By Vatican News
“We are broken-hearted, sickened, and outraged to watch
another video of an African American man being killed before our very eyes”,
writes a group of US Bishops in a statement released
on Friday, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis (USA) and the
subsequent unrest that has broken out across the country.
Floyd was killed by a police officer on Monday when he was
arrested for allegedly attempting to use a counterfeit banknote. Video recorded
by witnesses showed the officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck for almost 9 minutes,
despite the victim being handcuffed and restrained.
The killing has led to widespread protests across the United
States. Initially peaceful demonstrations later became violent in some places.
In the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, a police station was
vandalized and many stores and business were damaged on Thursday as a riot
broke out. Protests against police violence against minorities have taken place
in numerous cities throughout the country.
Bishops’ Statement
Friday's statement by the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops (USCCB) was signed by the Bishop chairmen of seven committees
of the Conference, including the committees on racism, pro-life activities, and
African American affairs.
In their statement, the bishops insist, “Racism is not a
thing of the past or simply a throwaway political issue to be bandied when it
is convenient. It is a real and present danger that must be met head on”.
While pleading for “peaceful non-violent protests”, the
bishops say they also “stand in passionate support of communities that are
understandably outraged”.
The Bishops offer their prayers for the soul of George Floyd
“and all others who have lost their lives in a similar manner”, and “for
comfort for grieving families and friends”. They also plead “for an end to the
violence in the wake of this tragedy” while expressing their hope that a full
investigation will result “in rightful accountability and actual justice”.
“Racism is a life issue”
Recalling the bishops’ most recent pastoral letter against racism, the bishops
say “People of good conscience must never turn a blind eye when citizens are
being deprived of their human dignity and even their lives. Indifference is not
an option”. And they forcefully repeat, “As bishops, we unequivocally state
that racism is a life issue”.
On the eve of the Solemnity of Pentecost, the bishops call
on all Catholics to pray for “a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit”, and for “a
supernatural desire to rid ourselves of the harm that bias and prejudice
cause”. They also call for prayers “to the Holy Spirit for the Spirit of Truth
to touch the hearts of all in the United States and to come down upon our
criminal justice and law enforcement systems”.
Finally, the bishops call “on each and every Catholic,
regardless of their ethnicity, to beg God to heal our deeply broken view of
each other, as well as our deeply broken society”.
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