I appreciate and applaud the Catholic News Herald’s recent coverage of racism, including the commentaries by Deacon Clarke Cochran. As a cradle Catholic who is white, male and elderly, I am becoming increasingly aware of my privilege in this society. I accept personally that “Racism is a … deep and persistent infestation in (American) society” – as Deacon Cochran wrote in his Nov. 20 commentary entitled “Responding as Catholics to systemic racism.”
Among other privileges, I am able to ignore the negative impacts of racism, while persons of color and lesser financial means struggle daily with fear, rejection, and a lack of material and societal resources.
Jerome Wagner is a member of St. James the Greater Church in Concord.
I’d like to congratulate Deacon Clarke Cochran for his commentaries about racism. I have found his parish, St. Peter Church in Charlotte, to be very representative of the views shared by the pope regarding respect for all life. Until this view is universal within the whole Catholic Church, the light will not be as bright for Black Catholics.
Another issue I have is the depiction of Christ with blond hair and blue eyes all the time. Christ is universal and everyone should see their own likeness and take joy in an image that is relatable. To combat racism, we must recognize that the Church is not white but a rainbow of all God’s people.
Alvin Bond is a member of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte.