November 26, 2017 - "The Challenge of Racism Today" (continued)

Earlier this month Cardinal Wuerl issued a pastoral letter, The Challenge of Racism Today.  In writing the pastoral letter Cardinal Wuerl hopes that all of us in the Archdiocese of Washington might join in a renewed effort to confront what continues to be a grave evil and sin in our society, and to drive it and other intolerance out of hearts, our lives and our community. 
 
Our faith helps us to see each other as members of God’s family.  Sadly, the divisive force of racism continues to be felt in our land and our society.  We are called to face, confront, and overcome this evil which has wounded so many in the history of our nation and still wounds people today.  It is also urgent that we address other forms of intolerance and prejudice that are likewise a denial of fundamental human dignity and clearly not a part of God’s plan that we are made equal in his image and likeness as part of one human family.
 
In this struggle to remove the attitudes that nurture racism and the actions that express it, we must show how the differences we find in skin color, national origin or cultural diversity are enriching.  Each person should be seen in his or her uniqueness as a reflection of the glory of God and a full and complete member of the human family.
 
Intolerance and racism will not go away without a concerted effort on the part of everyone.  As members of the Church failure to undertake this concerted effort is not an option.  We are called to be witnesses of the unity of God’s family.  In this effort we put our confidence in the Lord with the conviction that in some personal ways we can help to resolve it.
 
How can we help resolve it?  Let me give you an example of two people who responded to the sin of racism with holiness. 
 
Julia Greeley was born a slave in Missouri, sometimes between 1838 and 1848.  As a child, a slave master, when beating Julia’s mother caught Julia’s right eye with his whip, causing her to lose it. Once freed, Julia eventually settled in Denver, Colorado.  Despite all that she suffered, her forgiveness opened her heart to others.  While supporting herself through work, she would spend her earnings helping poor families, many of whom were white.  Realizing the shame people felt for being poor, Julia left her donations for them at night.  She became a Catholic in 1880, and later joined the Secular Franciscan Order.  When she died, hundreds of people came to pay their respects.  Her limitless charity, selflessness, and devotion to Christ made Julia a model of mercy, so much so that her cause of canonization was opened in 2016.  If you have experienced racist assaults, either physical or verbal, forgiveness is not easy.  I recommend that you pray to Julia, who was indeed a model of mercy and charity, for healing, peace, and forgiveness.  For more information about the canonization of Julia Greeley, go to juliagreeley.org.
 
Bernard Quinn was born in 1888.  Ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Brooklyn, Fr. Quinn became the pastor of St. Peter Claver Church in 1922.  In 1928, he founded an orphanage for homeless black children.  The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) twice burned down the orphanage. Msgr. Quinn defied the KKK and rebuilt it each time.  In a letter to his parishioners, he wrote, “I love you, I am proud of every one of you, and I would willingly shed to the last drop of my life’s blood for the least among you.”  A tireless advocate for the equality of all people, Msgr. Quinn’s cause for canonization was opened in 2008.  Standing up to racism is hard.  In moments of fear, I suggest that we pray to Msgr. Quinn and ask for the courage to stand up to hate in big and small ways.  For more information about the cause of canonization of Msgr. Bernard Quinn, go to fatherquinn.org.
 
Until next week,
Fr. John Dillon