It’s no secret that in a broken world such as ours, the effects of sin are far-reaching. In particular, the insidious sin of racism often rears its ugly head.
Recognizing the importance of examining our own consciences and learning from others’ experiences, the Archdiocesan Committee for Racial Equality and Justice (ACREJ) is hosting a pre-recorded webinar to discuss, reflect, and pray together on this important topic.
The committee was born out of a group pilgrimage to Montgomery, Alabama’s National Memorial for Peace and Justice, informally known as the “Lynching Museum,” as well as the “Resurrection Catholic Missions of the South, Inc.” Bishop Jorge Rodríguez, Auxiliary Bishop of Denver, Deacon Clarence McDavid, Sister Marion Weinzapfel, CSJ, and others made the pilgrimage in August 2019 and returned convinced of the need to educate others about the issue of racism in our Church and the broader community. After gaining Archbishop Aquila’s approval, the team got to work. This webinar is the latest effort of the team to educate and reflect.
“The goal of this livestream discussion is to create a forum for learning and understanding by presenting the personal narratives of Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ who have been affected by the sin of racism,” said Kateri Joda Williams, director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry. “Additionally, Danielle Brown, Esq., associate director of the Ad Hoc Committee on Racism for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will share poignant remarks. Archbishop Aquila and Bishop Rodriguez will join us in prayer.”
“Racism has no place in the Gospel message or any civil society,” said Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, Archbishop of Denver. “Figuring out how to love those who have suffered from racism requires knowing the historical experience of various groups and how they have been treated and their present-day struggles. It also requires examining our own hearts and actions.”
“All are invited to attend this webinar,” said Joda Williams, “even if you are not a person of color or have never experienced racism. It is a learning opportunity to hear perspectives from individuals who share our Catholic identity but have different lived experiences based on their race or ethnicity.”
The webinar can be viewed here on Tuesday, June 14, at 7:00 p.m. For more information, see the flyer below.
