SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION
 

We, the Family Faith Program at The Church of St. Francis Xavier, cannot stand in silence as the sins of racism and violence dictate the course of our national life. We are the parents, guardians, children, teenagers, catechists and director of a religious education program. Racism separates us from God because it separates us from our true brothers and sisters. We offer our deepest condolences to George Floyd’s family and friends. We pray for the repose of his soul and for all who are mourning him and the many other individuals who have been killed by racism.

 

In Family Faith, we strive to instill in our children the lessons of our faith. Central among these is the sacredness of all life. George Floyd and thousands of others in America are deprived of life because of the structural sin of racism embedded in our society. We know that our faith is reinforced by action – and that we are compelled to work to undo this racism, in ourselves, in our church and in our political and social structures. 

 

SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION

 

We stand with anyone expressing anger and frustration at the racist and white supremacist values embedded in our nation's institutions - indeed, within our Church structures and history.

 

We teach our children, as Jesus did, that the last shall be first. We acknowledge the impact of white privilege and the racialized history that our children have inherited. We  commit ourselves to foster an anti-racist education of the heart and mind to dismantle this structural sin. We ground our faith in Catholic social justice teachings rooted in the values of the Bible.

 

SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION

 

We call upon The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to speak clearly about the sacredness of Black lives and instruct Catholics on their duty to work against racism. 

  

We note with deep concern that people of color are disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and that these same communities are bearing the brunt of the virus' economic fallout. We recognize that this too is an inheritance of the racism embedded in our nation reflected in unacceptable inequalities. 

 

We commit ourselves to dialogue and action, to building with our children and community the better world Jesus promises if we honor the most important commandment: love God and love your neighbor as yourself.