As he spoke of his decades long experience of racism, and the current national climate following the police killing of George Floyd, the voice of Deacon Don Norris, the only African American deacon in the diocese, began to rise.
“We do not know what is going to happen next and when it is going to happen,” he said. “All we are asking for is equality, justice and hope. We ask our Church to remain local and proactive in denouncing the sin of racism.”
The diocese, indeed, made a public denunciation of racism with a peace walk on June 20, a day after the annual Juneteenth observance that marks the day that slaves in Texas received the news of their liberation. More than 75 people took to the streets of San Bernardino, praying the Rosary and carrying signs as they walked from the diocesan pastoral center down Highland Avenue to Perris Hill Park. The walk was organized by the diocesan Ministry to Catholics of African Descent.
“I want to be visible and show my support that we as Catholics stand up against racism, that we stand up for those who are marginalized,” said Amy Christensen, who drove all the way from 29 Palms to participate in the walk.
Many other local Catholic laypersons came to support the event. They were joined by five priests, three deacons and two religious sisters. Diocesan seminarian Michael Ezeoke led the group in praying the Rosary. When they reached Perris Hill Park, Father Manny Cardoza gave an impassioned reflection. He offered that the tide of racism can only be turned if every person is willing to look at their own role in it – through their actions, inactions or cultural assumptions.
“We have to look at ourselves and be honest and say, ‘I was part of the problem,’ “ said Father Cardoza, who is the pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in San Bernardino. “We have to ask ourselves, where is the racism in my own culture that I haven’t recognized and asked forgiveness for?”
Philomina Nwarueze, a parishioner of Sacred Heart parish, Rancho Cucamonga, came to the United States from Africa 35 years ago. She spoke briefly at the peace walk. While not American born, she said she has come to recognize and experience the kind of racism that is perpetrated against African Americans.
“I’m actually one of them. We share the same blood,” Nwarueze said. “So, I decided to come out today and fight for my children and fight for my grandchildren. I want them to feel free in this land.”
Some signs and words of reflection at the walk characterized the Catholic fight against racism as a pro life issue. Both Deacon Norris and Father Cardoza affirmed this idea, saying whenever the dignity of any human person is threatened, it becomes a “life” issue for the Church.
“You can’t be a follower of Christ if you are going to pick and choose which of his teachings you like best,” Deacon Norris said.
Sam Kolendowicz, director of pro life ministries at Our Lady of Hope, who is European-American, joined the peace walk.
“I’m here to pray for an end to this [racism],” she said. “It pains me that I can count the number of white people here on one hand.”
Ezeoke, who is African, said he has been troubled to see that some Catholic groups that have been supportive of the seminarian program and its events have been silent on the issue of racism. For those who would deny the problem, Ezeoke offered a simple piece of advice.
“If you know a black person ask them what it is like to be a black person in America—then you’ll know.”
The above comes from a June 24 article in the Catholic Byte.
More virtue signaling from the Church.
Racism is sinful and those with that upon their soul need contrition and absolution. It is a universal problem that affects people of all skin color. It is a sinister thing to blame whites for a larger portion of racism than other groups.
Most of the world is not white yet racism persists everywhere. The shackles of white guilt are at the end of the day, still shackles.
I know what you mean, Kristen. I think we all do if we are honest with ourselves. Ask the Albinos of Africa who are being hunted for their body parts by black Africans because of certain superstitions in some areas, even though they are of the same stock. Some brown-skinned people do not want their children to marry other brown-skinned people and the reverse.
God help us all.
Smug virtue signalling
Smug Virtue signaling, y’all say. How is this march for life any different or more “virtue signalling” than any anti-abortion march you and I have participated in?
I say, good for this diocese. It is about time the Church actually spoke out against racism instead of moistening its lips at the mere thought of it.
The caption under the picture is meant to provoke. I remember when there were mostly white people on the life chains against abortion. Do we not get any points for that? Still it is mostly white people on them. Where are the others? If you are going to have protests over race, how about putting up signs with “Abortion Kills All Children,” or “Down with the hunting of Albinos in Tanzania”, along with “I cannot breathe” for George Floyd.
Watch the documentary “Born Too White: Hunting of Albinos in Tanzania”. Is that not racism too?
Points. You want points for being provoked into a stand against the legacy of slavery and the Jim Crow laws, and segregation, and red-lining? If you accumulate enough points maybe you think you can get a flight to heaven?
Stop twisting my words. We all know why you voted for Barak Obama — because he protected marriages between two men. If he had not, you would kissing up to someone else and trashing him.
Correction: “you would be kissing up”.
Barak Obama was opposed to same sex marriage until right before the Supreme Court ruled.. Besides what does Obama or same sex marriage or who I voted for have anything whatsoever to do with anything we are discussing here. I didn’t twist your words, you asked for “points”. And no, you don’t get “points” for being anti-racist. You should be anti-racist because it is the Christian thing to be, and Christ himself earned for you (and me) whatever points there are to be earned. I myself have earned none of them.
Didn’t see any love for Jim Crow laws etc in the remarks, much drama from you YFC.
Anonymous, are you are standing up for Jim Crow laws? Or is it that you don’t get the connection between Jim Crow laws and racism, which is what the Bishop was protesting against.? The article is about a walk against racism and Jim Crow laws were fundamental to institutionalizing racism in US law. Pardon me for bringing “drama”. Pretty sure it was the slave traders who brought the drama….
No, and neither was anyone else here standing up for racist laws. Did you really think anyone was?
I am not a part of the problem. I do not categorize people by the color of their skin.
I do not have white guilt. The Left is always pigeon-holing people into Black White, Asian, Gay. I see people for who they are — their character.
And how about BLM saying all Whites are racists, bad, hateful, untrustworthy. Isn’t that racist?
“YFC”, they’re Pro-Life Marches, as a supposed Catholic, you should know that.
Abortion is an intrinsic and particular evil, period, and not subject to interpretation. The color of one’s skin is neutral, there is no sin attached to it. To use a broad brush approach in calling bearers of particular skin colors “privileged” is highly subjective and meaningless, so yes, those who perform acts of kneeling and other placations are indulging in virtue signaling.
You think you can just go around insulting people and consider yourself Christian? Who are you, Karen/Kristin, whatever, to say to me that I am a “supposed catholic”. You might want to take a look inside.
“YFC”, don’t know where you found the insult, that’s on you. Funny that you conjure up the Karen tag, but OK Boomer, that’s on you too. True enough, a careful examination of conscience is the right thing, necessary for a full and complete confession. Try it, it’s good for the soul.
are you honestly trying to say that the words “supposed catholic” were not intended as an insult? you expect people to believe that?
How about protesting the inherent racism of Planned Parenthood. How many unborn black children have they slaughtered in
the womb since their evil inception?
“Racisim is sinful, and those with that upon their soul need contrition and absolution.”
You seem to be saying that it is a mortal (serious) sin that kills grace in the soul. How is that exactly? If what you call racism is simply disdain for a particular race, without a cold-blooded hatred, how would that be a mortal sin? Do you tell people that have a strong dislike of someone else that they are in mortal sin? Hopefully not, because you would be wrong. Sinful? Yes, probably. A mortal sin? Not necessarily.
Your statement comes off as an attempt to inflate “racism” by stating that it is a mortal sin, unequivocally. It’s important to adhere to actual Catholic doctrine rather than the fads and popular hysteria of the day, especially when it comes to the cure of souls.
Fr. J.
Lawrence, take another look, there was no mention of mortal sin, that was your interpretation.
A careful examination of conscience is necessary to determine if the conditions for mortal sin exist, and as you should know, a good confession does indeed
bring grace to the soul. Lots of things lurking in the human heart need to be cleaned out, regardless of the “fads and popular hysteria of the day.”
Racism is an intrinsic evil. It is morally unacceptable at any level.
Systemic racism has been a scourge in America since before its founding. Systemic racism is very different from individual racism. People of goodwill, without a racist bone in their body, can be, and often are, supporters or abetters of systemic racism. How many people work in banks that redline sections of a town or use different requirements for loans to minority applicants? How many of us have supported the idea that people of different races must live in separate sections of town? How many of us don’t work to ensure that poor neighborhoods have quality schools, good grocery stores with fresh food? It is true that America is the most segregated on Sunday morning. Without knowing it, most of us continue the systemic racism in this country without realizing it, don’t we?
Wow, you have totally gone all in with the propaganda.
Well it’s certainly obvious that the Democrat party is involved in systematic racism. Just look at Planned Parenthood and where the majority or their killing centers are located with Democrats ruling. Where more black babies in democratic NYC are killed than are born alive. Just look at their founder of PP Margaret Sanger…more from the fit less from the unfit. And what about school choice which would give our African-American students equal status and a chance to succeed in life. Here again Democrats reject. Look at all the cities where blacks are falling behind, all Democrat cities. So yes, let’s address racism in these systems.
Bob One, there was a black church in our area where the mother of a Caucasian friend of one of my daughters tried to attend. When the woman went there with her daughter and was sitting in the pew, two black male ushers came over to her and told her flat out they did not want white people there. A few years later they came to my house trying to get parishioners, and I turned them away politely by telling them I already had a church. Later I did buy some of the food they sold at their outdoor functions when the church was more “varied”. Racism works both ways.
Bob One, I for one would like a clear definition of the word “racism” and a clear definition of the words “systemic racism.” In the present moment it is of the greatest importance for people to define their terms so we can think more deeply about the issues. I read precious little that takes this mandate seriously. Your examples of “systemic racism” are problematic. Having taught at interracial schools, I can tell you there exists a deep-seated hated of white teachers by some black students. And these are not poor neighborhoods. The turnover of teachers at this one school was and is quite high. Is it racist for teachers to quit such schools? Sunday morning segregation? How is this racist? If blacks wish to worship in a manner foreign to the sensibilities of many whites, that is not racist, but represents a cultural difference. Would you call a black church racist because there are no whites there? Segregation? Too big a subject for this post. To claim segregation is an example of systemic racism is too facile and simplistic.
Scratch under the surface of this “anti-racist” demagoguery and you’ll find old, evil Communism. As a legal immigrant and naturalized citizen I can testify this “systemic racism” is all claptrap. Americans are decent people.
Please try to spell San Bernardino correctly.
Same promotion of the #BLM political propaganda we see in the Diocese of Orange. They scream racism yet deny the anti Catholic, anti family, pro trans gender, pro Planned Parenthood garbage emanating at the seams from the corrupt BLM and Democrat crowd. Our church deserves better representation than the extreme leftists in charge of social media at the Diocese in Orange. #nomorecatholiccash.
Comments about the number of “white people” is a racist remark. Wish the Bishop(s) could join in as well, have a Eucharistic Procession…now that is a sign!
numberofabortions.com
More black babies are murdered in the womb than are born——
“Black lives Don’t matter” (BLD)
There will be no peace in the world until there is peace in the womb
Question: Why would Ezeoke and Nwarueze leave Nigeria for the US in the first place, if it’s so horrible being black in America?
Clearly we need to vet these seminarians, deacons, and migrants with much greater caution and vigilance.