Racial Justice Resources: Race & the Church

"Through his Cross and Resurrection, Christ united the one human race to the Father. However, even though Christ’s victory over sin and death is complete, we still live in a world affected by them. As bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States, we want to address one particularly destructive and persistent form of evil. Despite many promising strides made in our country, racism still infects our nation."

"The letter and this accompanying study guide are for everyone. The process of praying through, reflecting upon, and acting upon the message of the pastoral letter is hard work, but it is work from which all will benefit. As the bishops write, “Each of us should adopt the words of Pope Francis as our own: let no one ‘think this invitation is not meant for him or her.’”

"This Guide was prepared to assist Catholics and people of good will in reflecting on the evil and harm of racism. While this is not a comprehensive list, it provides actionable steps that may assist Catholics to reflect and respond in faith. With the aid of Holy Scripture, Catholic social teaching, and sacred tradition, this is an open invitation to journey toward reconciliation."

"People in our day suffer unjustly simply because of the color of their skin or their national origin. Let us acknowledge the sin of racism and work to combat it in our social structures, our institutions, and our hearts."