The events of the past weeks call us to read, study and reflect on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 2018 pastoral letter, “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love – A Pastoral Letter Against Racism.” This document gives us guidance for further reflection, understanding and action as we respond to the murder of George Floyd, the ensuing protests, and the underlying racism in our country.
One of the great blessings that following Jesus and coming to know God is that the Holy Spirit helps us to know who we are. Often who we are is determined by our family and our society. We take for granted these influences and do not realize their effect on us and how we look at the world. It can influence not just the foods we eat and the music we listen to, but how we look at people who are different than we are by ethnicity, race, language, customs and even gestures.