Bishop addresses ACTION clergy caucus

By LINDA M. LINONIS

linonis@vindy.com

youngstown

Bishop George V. Murry offered a brief synopsis of his work as member of the Ohio Task Force on Community-Police Relations but asked for “concrete and tangible” suggestions from organization members.

At an ACTION clergy caucus breakfast Thursday, the leader of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown said Gov. John Kasich charged the task force with formulating practical suggestions that can be implemented through executive order or legislation.

“He doesn’t want grand cosmic ideas, but concrete recommendations,” the bishop told members of the Alliance for Congregrational Transformation Influencing our Neighborhoods. Elder Ross Johnson, pastor of Bethel Church of God in Christ, 3147 Glenwood Ave., was host.

Bishop Murry said he has met with Valley police departments, community activists, mayors and prosecutors. He said ACTION members already show a “great sign of faith initiative” in work addressing social and education issues. The bishop said the governor wants a report from the task force by the end of April; the group has met four times since it was formed in late December 2014. He noted that the governor is taking a proactive approach to try to avoid or stop incidents that have led to racial strife elsewhere.

Among suggestions from ACTION members are:

Police officers should live in the communities they serve.

Community policing (same officers in a neighborhood on regular basis) puts law enforcement in better touch with neighborhoods and people who live there.

Schedule regular meetings between police and neighborhood groups to have an ongoing dialogue.

Respect goes both ways — the public for police and police for the public.

Statewide standard of training for police officers and ongoing training.

Extend invitations to police to attend church events.

Police should not have preconceived notions about race, age or appearance.

Psychological evaluations at various times, not only at time of hire, and bias testing.

Bishop Murry acknowledged that in the diocese that covers Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Ashtabula, Portage and Stark counties, there are few black Catholics. He added that often at parish events or Masses, he is the only person of color.

“The church has a role in race relations,” he said. “We must be committed to internal and external strategies.”

The bishop and other clergy acknowledged churches and ministries often are segregated. He suggested more pulpit exchanges among ACTION members as another avenue to promote understanding.

Rosetta Carter, ACTION executive director and lead organizer, said Youngstown schools, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and ACTION have applied for a $500,000 Community Connection grant for a mentoring project.

The Rev. Dr. M. Rosie Taylor, ACTION board president, said ACTION is “a living organism in the community.”