No one wants to ever feel that they are being put down or relegated to a lesser status in comparison to others. To feel or be judged as less than human is contradictory to human nature which seeks a sense of unity and connection, particularly with other people. It is a hope of equality that God has created us all for and in.
In the Gospel passage this weekend (Matthew 15:21-28) we hear Jesus ignoring and demeaning a woman who seeks his help, simply because she is not a lost sheep of the house of Israel, in other words she is not a Jew. Matthew’s Gospel is written to a Jewish audience, and so Jesus states repeatedly that he has only come to save fellow Jews, thus gaining credibility for that audience.
In her request for healing, Jesus treats the woman, pleading on behalf of her sick daughter, like a dog (certainly less than human) by stating that it is not right to take the food (of his mercy and healing) and throw it to the dogs (non-Jews such as her). I have come to appreciate that almost all people of color constantly feel the direct or indirect message that they are less valued than whites. They often feel the demeaning message that they are like dogs compared to humans.
The sin of Racism perpetuates this ‘less than’ dynamic, and it is wrong. We have been struggling with this sin for a long, long time.
With the support of our staff, I have crafted a statement about the need for reconciliation in the face of racism that is rooted in the Seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching. These tenets have already been an underpinning for our last seven Lenten Social Justice Projects. As we move forward, they will be increasingly foundational and provide motivation for many of our ministries, and thus our very mission.
The principles are:
• Protect the Dignity of Life and the human person
• Exercise the Rights and Responsibilities to care for the Gift of Life
• A Holy Participation in All Communities, particularly in Family
• Protect the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
• Give priority to supporting the lives of the Poor and Vulnerable
• Stand in Solidarity with those on the fringes of society and address issues and systems causing their isolation
• Care for God’s Creation
These principles compel us to make the following statement about the sin of racism.
Individual and systemic racism, in our past and currently, is a sin. It is antithetical to the founding principles of our nation’s Democracy, the vision of equality in which our God created us and the Gospel values of Jesus Christ. Sin is reconciled by truly acknowledging it, being as sincere as possible in asking for, and trusting in, God’s forgiveness and genuinely committing to change through action.
WE here at Holy Family Catholic Community will carry out our commitment to reconciling racist sin by fully living out the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching and will carry out that commitment through education, formation, discussion and engagement.
I ask all who call Holy Family home for a full and genuine commitment to this reconciliation.
I also ask that you use the resources that we will make available in the future to learn more about this significant issue.
One of our parishioners, Carol Frenda, has created a t-shirt and logo that makes a statement consistent with that of our parish. Visit her website at stores.barrelmakerprinting.com and look for BREATHE Tee. A portion of her proceeds will be donated back to Holy Family. Thanks, Carol!!!