Church Statements

Statement on National Race Crisis: A Statement Issued by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (1968)

Topic
Year Published
  • 2017
Language
  • English

Statement on National Race Crisis: A Statement Issued by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, April 25, 1968

In 1958, the Catholic bishops of the United States issued a state­ment on Discrimination and the Christian Co,iscience. In it they con­demned racism in all its forms. They could not do otherwise, given what faith and reason clearly teach concerning the unity of the human family: "He has made of one all mankind to dwell upon the whole face of the earth ... that they should seek God" (Acts 17:26-27).

The bishops pointed out that full and equal justice must be given to all citizens, specifically those who are Negro. They urged that the religious community "seize the mantle of leadership from the agitator and the racist." They further pleaded: "It is vital that we must act now and act decisively."

Statement-on-National-Race-Crisis-April-25-1968.pdf