Racial Justice
We Stand Against Racism
Racism has plagued our country since its foundation and, despite strides made over the years, discrimination against people of color remains a persistent feature of American life, as witnessed by the recent killing of George Floyd. Racism is not simply a moral flaw lodged in the hearts of individuals, but is a structural flaw woven into the fabric of society, affecting education, healthcare, policing, and the criminal justice system. But more than simply a political problem, racism is a spiritual and theological problem, denying that all people are made in the image of God and redeemed by the death and resurrection of Christ. It is a sin that brings death and destruction to individuals and communities.
We as the community of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen and its School believe in the power of God’s Spirit to change hearts and to transform our common life together. As a community, we stand in love and solidarity with our brothers and sisters of color. As a community, we seek to live the gospel call, which rejects racism. As a community, we seek to take action to undo racial bias and the harm that it brings. As a community, we join in prayer with Archbishop Lori, who said in his homily on the Feast of Pentecost, “let us ask the Spirit to shake our house – to shake us out of complacency over the pandemic of racism and to fill us with fiery determination to defeat this heresy and sin, and to do so with the truth and love of Christ, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.”
-Cathedral of Mary Our Queen Pastoral Staff and The School of the Cathedral Administration
A Statement from the Pastoral Council
The Pastoral Council is committed to learning about racial justice and growing in the knowledge of how to be an ally for those who are subject to racially oppressive structures. The council will do this by 1.) educating themselves through reading and contemplating about the issue, 2.) by seeking to deepen our relationship with those we are already in partnership with: Mother Seton Academy, GEDCO, Immaculate Conception on Druid Hill Ave, St. Charles Borromeo, our sister parish in Haiti, and finally 3.) by seeking to advocate for changes in our laws to bring an end to oppressive legislative structures.
Archbishop Lori on Racial Justice
- Archbishop Lori's Homily on Pentecost Sunday 2020 video / text
- Statement from Archbishop Lori about the verdict on the Derek Chauvin trial
- Archbishop Lori's Pastoral Letter, "The Journey to Racial Justice" (2019)
- Archbishop Lori's Pastoral Letter, "The Enduring Power of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Principles of Nonviolence" (2018)
Learn
Throughout this country’s history, the hallmarks of American democracy – opportunity, freedom, and prosperity – have been largely reserved for white people through the intentional exclusion and oppression of people of color. The deep racial and ethnic inequities that exist today are a direct result of structural racism: the historical and contemporary policies, practices, and norms that create and maintain white supremacy.
Reflect
Today, racism continues to exist in our communities and in our parishes. Racism is what makes us see the "other" with suspicion or to attribute negative characteristics to an entire group of people. This evil manifests itself in our individual thoughts, and also in the workings of our society itself. Today's continuing inequalities in education, housing, employment, wealth, and representation in leadership positions are rooted in our country's shameful history of slavery and systemic racism.
“Racism can only end if we contend with the policies and institutional barriers that perpetuate and preserve the inequality—economic and social—that we still see all around us. With renewed vigor, we call on members of the Body of Christ to join others in advocating and promoting policies at all levels that will combat racism and its effects in our civic and social institutions.” – U.S. bishops, Open Wide Our Hearts
Act
We encourage you to look into the following organizations for ways to work towards racial justice:
- Archdiocese of Baltimore Racial Justice efforts
- Loyola U – Baltimore Racial Justice Action
- Ignatian Solidarity Network
We hope you will journey with us on this important effort.