An Open Letter To Catholics In The USA

There were two differences between us. First of all, he was better dressed than I was. The second was that he was black and I was white. As two friends, we entered the convenience store at the same time. The clerk stocking the shelves saw us both. When we split up, he followed my friend and there is only one reason he would have done so. He was black and I was not. We both knew what happened and why, so we left the store without buying anything. 

This was when I first realized that there are times that being black meant that someone might be treated differently than I was (because I was white) and I was really angry about it. But, since I don’t see this kind of overt racism very often, it isn’t something that I am angry about too often. That is my fault. Any injustice should unsettle us.

We are at a time in our country when racism is being brought back to the front of our consciousness and we need to do something about it before this moment fades away. Yet, I am afraid too many Catholics are ready to allow this moment to pass, because it means we may have to look at some things that could make us uncomfortable. It may mean we need to change, both ourselves and our society. Change is hard. But, justice demands we consider what we need to change. Christian love demands it. Even our ability to witness to the world.

Consider this - how can we expect the world to listen to our Good News, if we won't listen, consider, and help fight the world's bad news?

A CATHOLIC ISSUE?
Most Mass-going Catholics agree that euthanasia is an important issue. Throughout the years many have faught the ongoing push to legalize euthanasia, esp. of the elderly and sick. This fight against euthanasia is clearly a pro-life issue and one of justice. Yet, in no way does our fight against euthanasia distract against an even worse problem - abortion. In fact, we are obligated to fight against both, even if more time, energy, and money should go into the bigger issue (currently) of abortion. 

The same could be said about “black lives matter” and the all too often response of some Catholics, which is “all lives matter”. To say that “black lives matter” does not necessitate the exclusion of all other lives. Rather, it is to say that there is a particular injustice (racism against blacks) that is being brought to the forefront. 

Many Catholics immediately respond with the counters to why we ought not support an organization that seems to be run by those who oppose Catholic teaching on many other issues. Yet, if my next door neighbor disagrees with me on a decision on how to enforce the HOA agreement, they are no less my brother or sister I am called to love. I can disagree on many things and still fight for what is right together, when we do agree.

So, if someone who I disagree with on some things says something I can agree with, then I shouldn’t dismiss them because they oppose me on other issues. They are still my brother or sister. I am still called to love them. We are called to love and serve everyone.

Other Catholics have told me it is all a tactic to get other policies (that they think are unjust) implemented through the back door. Well, let us stand in the face of injustice where it is, in all places. We cannot not act. As Archbishop Chaput said, when the race conflict in Charlottesville happened a few years ago:

"Racism is a poison of the soul. It's the ugly, original sin of our country, an illness that has never fully healed. We especially need to pray for those injured in the violence.

But we need more than pious public statements. If our anger today is just another mental virus displaced tomorrow by the next distraction or outrage we find in the media, nothing will change. Charlottesville matters. It's a snapshot of our public unraveling into real hatreds brutally expressed; a collapse of restraint and mutual respect now taking place across the country. We need to keep the images of Charlottesville alive in our memories. If we want a different kind of country in the future, we need to start today with a conversion in our own hearts, and an insistence on the same in others. That may sound simple. But the history of our nation and its tortured attitudes toward race proves exactly the opposite."
-Archbishop Chaput

• To understand the viewpoint of another person does not mean I need to accept it as true or good.

• To agree about a principle, does not mean we will always agree on the response.

• There is no harm in listening to viewpoints that differ from your own. In fact, it may help you grow as a human and come to be more loving, kind, and compassionate.

• To find common ground can help us when we disagree on other things.

• Racism IS a pro-life issue. It is a Catholic issue. It is a justice issue.

• Racism is sinful.

• Looting and rioting are sinful.

• Protesting injustice is not only a Constitutional right, but a moral obligation.

• It is possible to believe that the USA is a great country AND that the USA needs change, healing, and conversion.

• ALL human beings are equal in God’s eyes.

• Humanity has a deep sickness (sin) that only Jesus can cure.

• The devil wants us angry at each other and divided.

• We need to pray for our country and an end to racism and injustice.

• We need to act, when we are called to do so.

• To point out the bad acts of a small part of a group (e.g., police) does not mean we need to condemn the entire group.

No, I don’t have the answers to the problems in our culture or how to end racism and injustice. But God does. Still I know this - if we allow our politics to inform our religion more than we allow our religion to inform our politics, we have things backwards. Too many Catholics are allowing their politics (or other ideas) to dictate what Catholic teachings will challenge them. The fullness of the Catholic teaching about charity and justice ought to inform how we think about these issues. So...

Let us love. 
Let us consider others. 
Let us fight for what is right. 
Let us not settle for being ok. 
Let us be saints. 
Let us be courageous.

There is nothing more dangerous to the Catholic Church than Catholics who are not willing to even listen to the people around us. It means we are doomed to fail in our mission to make disciples.

"Today, if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other-that man, that woman, that child is my brother or my sister. If everyone could see the image of God in his neighbor, do you think we would still need tanks and generals?" -Mother Teresa