Racial Justice

Background

As a Catholic network inspired by the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the witness of the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador and their companions, we believe in the dignity of each and every person. We denounce racism in all forms and commit to working with our network to confront white supremacy and systemic racial injustice.

The United States has experienced tremendous strife over the recent tragic killings of a number of young black men and women, including George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ahmaud Arbery in Satilla Shores, Georgia, Michael Brown in St. Louis, Sandra Bland in Waller County, Texas, Tamir Rice in Cleveland, Eric Garner in New York City, Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Laquan McDonald in Chicago, and many others. We know that this loss of life, often at the hands of the police, stems from systemic racism and white supremacy and are but a small number of the black lives lost throughout our country’s founding and history.

The deaths of these individuals and many others have renewed dialogue about what some have called “America’s original sin of racism.” The events in Charlottesville, Virginia, similarly brought the realities of racism, bigotry, and white supremacy further to the forthright of our nation’s consciousness. Across the country, people from all backgrounds–many of them, especially white people, for the first time–are confronting the destructive legacy wrought by generations of systemic and personal racial discrimination. Most recently the filmed interaction between Christian Cooper and Amy Cooper in Central Park brought to the forefront the “underlying current of racism” and racial power dynamics in the United States today. The protests of the recent killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer have sparked the U.S. consciousness on the issues of police brutality, racism, and the dignity of black lives, issues that are ever-present but not always discussed or uplifted in all parts of society.

There are no easy answers, but our faith can be an important lens through which to analyze these realities and that helps us to discern the steps towards social action. The following are resources from a Catholic, Jesuit perspective–including some reflections from communities mentioned above themselves.

This list is not exhaustive; in fact, our hope is that you might share your own resources (articles, exercises, toolkits, book titles, etc.), so that we can add them and develop a more robust collection. Please contact us with your ideas at info@ignatiansolidarity.net.

RECENT ARTICLES FROM ISN

2023-08-02/by ISN Staff

Youth Lead Advocacy Summits Across the West Coast on Housing, Ecology, Migration, and Restorative Justice

2023-07-27/by ISN Staff

Parish Ministers Build Community and Skills at 2023 Ignatian Parish Justice Summit

2023-06-30/by Jesica S. Fernández

Dominican Youth Activists of Haitian Descent: Mobilizing for Recognition, Rights, and Resistance to Anti-Blackness

2023-06-13/by Teresa Thompson

Juneteenth: Behold, Now is a Very Acceptable Time

2023-02-08/by Clarissa Aljentera

Ignatian Spirituality and Antiracism Gathering: Dialogue and Collaboration

UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE NETWORK

FEATURED PODCAST

Positioned at the nexus of faith & matters pertaining to race, justice, and Catholic education, Just Conversations is a podcast that highlights historical and current happenings in the realm of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Anti-Racism, while focusing on solutions, systems-change, and the amplification of voices working to create a more egalitarian society for all.

Listen/Subscribe

FEATURED SERIES

FOR EDUCATORS:
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Antiracism Educator Conversations Series

FOR PARISHIONERS:
A Parish Journey for Racial Justice Conversations Series

FEATURED VIDEOS

FEATURED CAMPAIGNS

21 day ignatian racial equity challenge1080x1080 (1)

Copy of Copy of Racial Justice Programming 1200X630

Articles and Reflections

Catholic Resources

On Catholicism and Racism:

On Secondary and Higher Education:

Statements and Pastoral Letters:

“Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love” | U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter, 2018
Statement of Catholic Theologians on Racial Justice and Police Reform | 2014
“Brothers and Sisters To Us” | U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter, 1979
Pastoral Letter on Racism | Archdiocese of Chicago, 2001
Statement on the killing of Michael Brown by police in Ferguson, MO | Pax Christi USA
President’s Statement | St. Louis University Response to Ferguson
Archbishop William E. Lori’s Statement of Protests | Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore
What We Have Seen And Heard: A Pastoral Letter On Evangelization From The Black Bishops Of The United States | 1984
Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself: U.S. Catholic Bishops Speak Against Racism | 2014
The Racial Divide in the United States: A Reflection for the World Day of Peace 2015 (Includes Study Guide) | Pastoral letter by Most Rev. Edward K. Braxton, Ph.D., S.T.D.
Night Will Be No More | Pastoral letter by Bishop Mark J. Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso, 2019

Blog:

Raids Across the Color Line
Blog by Chis Pramuk (Xavier University, author of Hope Sings, So Beautiful) and a diverse and talented group of writers, all deeply invested in the conversation about race. The website also contains links to works of music, art, and literature related to race.
Lift Every Voice: A Lenten Journey Toward Racial Justice (2016)
A Lent 2016 series of reflections on racial justice featuring over 25 authors from the Ignatian network.

Study Guides:

Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Death Penalty study guide on Just Mercy
Just Mercy has been made free to watch online throughout June. CMN developed an accompanying study guide.
Lenten Racial Justice Journey (2020)
A variety of materials compiled by the College Church Racism & Reconciliation committee to guide Lenten reflection.

Prayers

Prayers and Prayer Services:

Featured Resources

An Ignatian Prayer Vigil for Lamentation and Racial Justice | Ignatian Solidarity Network
An Examen for White Allies | Ignatian Solidarity Network

Other Prayer Resources

Prayer Dismantling Racism | Pax Christi USA
Prayer Service | St. Louis University Response to Ferguson
Stations of the Cross: Lament for Racial Injustice | Anti-racism Implementation Team, Archdiocese of Chicago
Black Catholic History Rosary | U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Dr. Kirk P. Gaddy
God of the Journey: 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March Prayer | U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Fr. Manuel Williams, C.R.
Prayers of the Faithful Against Racism | U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
A Prayer Service for Racial Healing in Our Land | U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Prayer for the Elimination of Racism | Sisters of Mercy
Prayer for Racial Healing | Catholic Charities USA
Requiem for Black Children of God | Archdiocese of New Orleans

Multimedia

VIDEO: Trudi Renwick, Ph.D. Virtual Solidarity on Tap

About Trudi Renwick, Ph.D. Trudi Renwick oversees the branches of the U.S. Census Bureau responsible for processing, analyzing and publishing ...

Racial Justice

Background

FEATURED PODCAST

Articles and Reflections

STAY CONNECTED:

Contact:

About: