Combatting Racism

"Some of you said: this system can no longer be endured. We must change it; we must put human dignity again at the center and on that pillar build the alternative social structures we need. It must be done with courage, but also with intelligence, with tenacity but without fanaticism, with passion but without violence. And among us all, addressing the conflicts without being trapped in them, always seeking to resolve the tensions to reach a higher plane of unity, peace and justice." 

-- Pope Francis, 10/28/14

Church Statements and Background

Brothers and Sisters to Us - U.S. Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter on Racism, 1979 | Selected quotes

25th Anniversary Executive Summary - We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight: The Church's Response to Racism in the Years Following

Reconciled Through Christ | En Español - Published by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2013, this publication explores the reconciliation and greater collaboration between Hispanic American Catholics and African American Catholics.

On Racial Harmony - A Statement by the Administrative Board, National Catholic Welfare Conference (August 23, 1963) that reaffirms the U.S. Catholic bishops' official position against racial discrimination and segregation.

Racism Backgrounder - A two-page background information sheet on systemic racism and the Church's response.

Selected quotes from Discrimination and Christian Conscience, a statement of the U.S. Catholic bishops (Nov. 14, 1958)

Bishop's Statements and Letters

A Statement of Support for the New Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism from the Executive Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
September 12, 2017

USCCB Special Task Force to Promote Peace in Our Communities: Report and Recommendations
Nov. 10, 2016

USCCB President Calls for Dialogue, Peace in the Midst of Violence
July 18, 2016

Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself: U.S. Catholic Bishops Speak Against Racism - In 2001, several bishops brought together a series of essays on the perspective of the different cultural families and on racism in general. Their insight remains relevant today and still relevant excerpts, collated in 2013, are available.

The Catholic Church and the Black Lives Matter Movement: The Racial Divide in the United States Revisited
Bishop Edward K. Braxton, Diocese of Belleville, IL
February 26, 2016

The Racial Divide in the United States: A Reflection for the World Day of Peace 2015
Bishop Edward K. Braxton, Diocese of Belleville, IL

Statement on Race Relations
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky
President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Statement on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky
President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

What We've Seen and Heard: A Pastoral Letter on Evangelization | En Español | Selected quotes
From the Black Bishops of the United States
September 9, 1984

Prayers & Liturgy Resources

A Prayer Service for Racial Healing in Our Land | en Español

Prayer to Address the Sin of Racism | en Español

Prayer Card: Prayer for Peace in Our Communities | en Español | en français

Prayer of the Faithful for Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities | en Español

2016 National Day of Prayer for the African American Family

God of the Journey: 50th Anniversary Prayer Selma to Montgomery March

Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Teaching Resources

Responding to the Sin of Racism Resources - This packet, which includes bulletin text, handouts, and memes, was compiled by various offices of the USCCB.

Diversity and Racial Justice Resources - The WeAreSaltandLight.org website of the USCCB Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development includes a Diversity and Racial Justice page that features videos and articles on this topic.

Resources on Racism for Youth Ministry Leaders - The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) has compiled a list of resources on race for those working with youth. The page includes resources for families, small groups, and others. Link to: http://www.nfcym.org/racism.htm

The Racial Divide in the United States - Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Ph.D., S.T.D., Bishop of Belleville (Illinois) shares his thoughts on racism in his pastoral letter and study guide, The Racial Divide in the United States: A Reflection for the World Day of Peace 2015.

Letter from Birmingham Jail Study Guide - In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, Christian Churches Together, one of the largest ecumenical organizations in the U.S., offered a response and created a Study Guide to facilitate reflection either for groups or individuals.  The webpage for this important document also has an additional introduction for Catholics to the Study Guide and an introductory letter from Bishop Madden and Bishop Flores.

Intercultural Competencies - This page explains the five competencies that were defined by the U.S. bishops in making "Recognition of Cultural Diversity in the Church" one of their priorities. The manual Building Intercultural Competence for Ministers can be found online or obtained in print from USCCB Publishing. Regional trainings on the competencies are being scheduled at this time. Visit the Intercultural Competency site often for updates. If interested in hosting or organizing a training, please contact Yolanda Taylor-Burwell at ytaylor-burwell@usccb.org or 202-541-3152.

Civil Dialogue | en Español - This handout includes a reflection by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, on how Catholics can speak truth in love and engage in civil dialogue.

Blog posts & guest writers

"Father Cyprian Davis and Racism in America" by Mark Schmidt

"Engaging in a Racial Examination of Conscience" by Mark Schmidt

"The 'New Selma' is Being Watched" by Ray Boshara

"The Sluggish Pursuit of Racial Justice" by Bishop Joseph Perry

"Some Thoughts on Recent Tragedies and Racial Tensions" by Msgr. Charles Pope

"5 Ways You Can Cultivate Peace and Promote Racial Justice"

"Reflections on Peace and Racial Justice in Our Communities" by Deacon Al Turner

"Our Diversity is Our Strength" by Deacon Al Turner

"I don't know how I feel" by Ralph McCloud

"Faith-based groups leading efforts for racial equity"

"Let the people vote!" by Donna Grimes

"Racism, Inequality and the Right to Vote" by Jason Adkins

"Straddling History and Hope in Selma" by Ralph McCloud

How Catholic Faith Communities Are Celebrating Diversity and Seeking Racial Justice

Improving police-community relations, working for racial and economic justice in Dallas

Witnessing to faith and love in Ferguson

Faith transforms violence and racism in West Baltimore

School facilitates encounter for Catholic-Muslim pen pals (St. Paul, MN)

Parish facilitates discussions that encounter (Minneapolis,  MN)

Reflecting on racism, affirming the dignity of all God's children (Savannah, GA)

Living the Eucharist through encounter, racial and economic justice (New Orleans, LA)

Parish celebrates diversity, forms leaders of many ethnicities (Springfield, IL)

Praying and acting to fight racism and division (Washington, DC)

Social justice pilgrimages help students live call to faith, peace and justice (Romeoville, IL)

Parishes have sacred conversations on race (+ action) (St. Louis, MO)

Bishop leads prayer walks, helps parishes address causes of violence (Baltimore, MD)

Our Lady of Guadalupe travels to parishes, inspires solidarity (Washington, DC)

Learn more about Cultural Diversity

Cultural Diversity in the Church - The mandate of the Committee of Cultural Diversity in the Church, and its corresponding Secretariat, is to be present on behalf of the Bishops' Conference to the many cultures, ethnicities and races that today constitute the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The goal is to encourage the inclusion and fuller participation of all God's People in the life and ministry of the Church by building up their Catholic identity in a spirit of unity in diversity.