Bishop McElroy: “A deep and crippling sadness envelops this nation that we love so deeply. The peril and the burden of a pandemic have worn us down. We have become isolated, cut off from so many of the joys that give meaning to our lives, and in many cases cut off from the blessing of family itself. While at most moments such a trauma for our society would have created an energized sense of unity and solidarity, in this moment it has created division and alienation. Our economy has suffered a cardiac arrest, and the fear of economic free-fall duels with the peril of pandemic to blur the pathway forward. We are worn down.
“And alongside this exhaustion of our entire people, the seismic fault line that is the greatest shame of our nation’s past and present – our legacy of racial prejudice, violence and silence – has erupted once again and now tears apart the fabric of our society. The death of one man – in the killing of George Floyd – conveys the evil of 400 years of racial oppression. The words of one man – “I can’t breathe” – capture the pervasive and insidious power of racial prejudice that is layered within the structures of American public life and its legal, political and economic systems.
“Where lies grace in a moment such as this?
“It lies in understanding that a genuine healing for our nation can only be found in a radical effort to accompany the African-American community in their weariness and rage and hope and despair that have been formed and deformed upon the anvil of racism. Ours must not be an episodic response that seeks to calm the waters of racial turmoil and then return to normalcy. The only authentic moral response to this moment in our nation’s history is a sustained conversion of heart and soul to genuinely comprehend the overwhelming evil of racism in our society, and to refuse to rest until we have rooted it out.”
“Where lies grace in a moment such as this?
“It lies in the words of Terrence Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, who is the midst of overwhelming grief pointed the way forward for our nation when he called for a peaceful unity to replace the destructive unity of looting, violence, divisive nationalism and partisan tribalism. We are in a moment which calls out for an unstoppable commitment to forge a new solidarity in our nation, finding in the very suffering of these past months a foundation for compassion and unity, friendship and peace.
“Where lies grace in a moment such as this?
“It lies in knowing that the presence of God surrounds us in these days of sadness and loss, and calls us to moral and spiritual conversion, so that the soul of our nation can be renewed and our eyes might truly see the Glory of the coming of the Lord once more into our midst.”
The above comes from a June 1 release from the Diocese of San Diego.
Again, the nation was consecrated to Mary just a few weeks ago… why didn’t that have a good effect? Where is Mary’s protection? If you assert that things would be worse if the consecration hadn’t taken place you’re begging the question and playing games. The bishop asserts that God’s presence surrounds us in these days of sadness and loss… well air I can sense surrounding me but God’s presence I cannot. So please explain what effect God’s presence has that can be tested and detected, otherwise the assertion seems to be piously comforting but ultimately empty words. Like one church I know of has been putting comforting graphics on its Facebook feed, saying things like, “When you think it’s too late God whispers: I still have a plan.” Well, okay, but let’s see the plan in action with some positive effects and real results otherwise the assertion is meaningless. Or “God never says you won’t go through valleys but you never have to go through them alone.” That sounds a lot like what the bishop is saying… asserting God’s there and active and helping but not explaining how or what evidence proves it. Just assuming or asserting without pointing to anything definitive.
Kevin T., God never wills sins and what was done to George Floyd and so many others is a grave sin. I wish He had not allowed it, but He knows better than I. Why does God allow parents of small children to be murdered? Or to die of other causes? Does He not care? Some people stop believing because of the sorrows of this world. Our sorrowful Mother stood at the foot of the Cross of Her Son, Jesus, and was overwhelmed by sorrow but still kept faith. He died so that our sins could be forgiven. On the third day He rose again. He will never die again, unlike Lazarus and the son of the widow and the little girl. He lives. Just because God doesn’t do what you want doesn’t mean He does not exist. Jesus, once in agony, pity the dying. Grant eternal repose to those who have died.
Kevin T., His plan is salvation. The Gospel is: Jesus Christ died so that sins could be forgiven.. God told us to prevent murder by controlling our behavior and our anger. When someone does not do that, it is on them, not God. Jesus allowed himself to be victimized by the authorities. and sadly, others become victims too. You know about the martyrs, right? Faith does not need evidence.
So faith is blind. Got it. Faith is not falsifiable. Got it. Nobody can point to anything happening right now, in our own day, in which God is helping people who believe in and trust in him that makes a difference right here and now in this world, in this life, not in some non-falsifiable and hoped-for afterlife. Got it. In that case, faith is meaningless babble. What is the difference between a God who doesn’t exist and a God who exists but doesn’t do anything?
Kevin , you should talk to a traditional priest about what God’s time is and entails as well as other maters of faith. The consecration to Mary was a great thing , such things are not a magic spell that instantly confers what peace and blessings we desire right away. As an example of this when Our Lady of Fatima said that the war (WW!) would end soon that was in October 1917 , the war did not end until November 1918, our soon and God’s soon are not always the same
shepherd
or
barrio grandstander ??
“The death of one man – in the killing of George Floyd – conveys the evil of 400 years of racial oppression”?
Doesn’t the murder of George Floyd have more to due with one racist, bad cop?
Of course, there is the sin of racism in our country and all countries, but the bishop’s statement seems an “over the top” political statement and virtue signaling.
This is the same bishop who equates questionably-human-caused climate change with the intentional killing of millions of innocent babies. The bishop is right that God calls us to moral and spiritual conversion, all of us. Pray for this bishop, all bishops and all of us.
Hhggg
So open up the churches, bishops.
And, I we’re such a horrible, racist nation, why do so many people want to come here??
It would be easier to say, love God, love neighbor. Instead, we get the ideology of a liberal bishop who blames America, again.
It is our soul that is to blame – Christ is the answer. Not ideology.
Here we go again with another ignoble lecture from the Woke bishop of San Diego. Who is Bishop McElroy referring to when he says the “Our legacy of racial prejudice, violence and silence has erupted once again”? He surely can’t be referring to the good people of his diocese, or any diocese in the US. I don’t know one person who is guilty of anything so immoral, yet we are being chastised once again. His last verbal abuse hurled at his San Diego flock for being “Repugnant and Corrosive” re LGBT rights should have been enough for most Catholics to stop giving him another penny.
There is a reason President Trump had a Bible in his hand as he walked across the street and stood in front of a vandalized place of worship. The answer to racism is contained in that Bible. It will not come with the wave a wand or the desire of others to make it go away. It will not come from violence and anarchy and destruction of people and property. It will not come from political decisions. It can only come through the softening of the hearts of mankind. What has unfolded these last few weeks has only hardened the hearts of everyone. We need to listen to the words of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. In his black revolution days, when he was radically and violently opposing racism, he reached back to the Catholic faith of his youth and committed to God, “ If you take anger out of my heart, I’ll never hate again.” Perhaps Bishop McElroy should look to the Clarence Thomas and Candice Owens for his inspiration and the answer to the root cause of the problem. Bishop McElroy, may I encourage you to guide your flock in having a change of heart through preaching the gospel not liberal talking points?
My family has suffered badly from black crime…
Including a death, long stays in the hospital,
kids knocked down and purses stolen,
others beaten up by black gangs rampaging thru SF.
We have to be totally silent about this black criminality,
as it is “racist” to even mention it….
If you are a black person reading this, remember that
there are many times that white people suffer much injustice
at the hands of black people.
Yes, the Elephant in the Room. Even Cal-Catholic is spooked.
After Trump’s victory, Bp McElroy told the communist gathering in Modesto, “We must all become disruptors.”
As Aesop might say: Be careful what your bishop wishes for, lest you get it.
Hymie , love the Aesop quote , lot of truth and lessons from him that can be applied in a Catholic view.