Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The bishop said people of faith must strive to end
racism, and offered
suggestions of how.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN — Bishop George V. Murry called on people of faith to work to end racism as he addressed the 22nd annual Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast.
The event, sponsored by Mahoning Valley Association of Churches, was Tuesday at the Maronite Center, 1555 S. Meridian Road.
“I Have a Dream of the Future” was his topic, and the leader of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown said he was looking forward to the day when racism no longer exists.
But, he noted, it will take both words and actions by members of Christian, Jewish and Islamic traditions to achieve that goal.
Bishop Murry said people of faith fighting racism face three facts — racism exits, racism is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and baptized Christians, and those of other faith backgrounds have a moral obligation to put an end to racism.
“Racism is depicting one race as defective to another and seeing another as superior,” he said. Racism may be evident in societal situations, institutional settings and culturally.
“Institutional racism may manipulate the situation so that blacks or Hispanics are not considered for a promotion,” the bishop said. “Cultural racism applies European-American behavior as being the norm and other behaviors are deviations.”
Racism, the bishop said, conflicts with the word of God because “every person was formed in the image of God.”
“Racism is a form of idolatry ... a dominant group uses its domination to subordinate another racial group,” he said. A majority depicts a minority as “deficient and defective and therefore dangerous.”
Bishop Murry said though racism still infects some in the United States, he is encouraged by the number of blacks and Hispanics being elected to office and running for office, and assuming leadership roles in businesses.
“The battle against racism is being won,” he said.
Still, news reports of an incident in the South of a black woman being raped and tortured, and of Hispanics who “die or disappear at the Mexican border” mean that racism is still alive.
In friendships, work and recreation, people may commit the “sin of racism,” he added.
How can it be abolished, the bishop asked.
“We must open ourselves to the spirit of God who dwells among us,” Bishop Murry said, and “turn our lives over to the Lord.”
Bishop Murry asked his audience to commit to eliminating racism and “live in hope” of doing just that. “We must be inclusive and not exclusive.”
He offered these suggestions to achieve a racist-free future:
UPray. “It’s powerful.”
U Teach children to be accepting.
U Develop a personal vision statement.
U Make contact with people of other races.
U Identify racism in the community and devise a plan to combat it.
U Shun racist jokes and comments.
U Report racist companies.
U Elect public officials who support racial justice.
Bishop Murry asked blacks and Hispanics to “take back their communities” by committing to “no violence, promoting two-parent families and supporting education.”
“There’s no one thing we can do to eliminate this overnight. But in the Lord, through the Lord, this victory can be won,” Bishop Murry said. “Racism can be overcome. We have the power to change. We must struggle against racism so one day we all will be free.”
Offering prayers were Rabbi Franklin Muller of Congregation Rodef Sholom; Susan Wessner, associate in ministry at Good Hope Lutheran Church; and Walid Abuasi of the Islamic Society of Greater Youngstown. Abuasi’s closing prayer echoed the bishop’s message in that “love, mercy, freedom and equality are for all.”