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December 14, 2020
Keilani Villanueva
Brisbane
Dear Nicholas Wolfram Smith,
There is an admirable amount of concern and research given in the articles championing the cause of religious liberty and discrimination against organized religion under the COVID-19 restrictions; but that same level of passion and detail should also be given to the analysis and reporting of racial discrimination and the related protests.
When Pope John Paul II apologized to Africans for slavery and discrimination, the church was officially acknowledging the importance of discrimination. While the inability to congregate impacts all people of faith, racial discrimination in the United States impacts certain groups more than others.
I suggest a level of consistency when it comes to discussing discrimination of religious freedom and racial discrimination. In an article concerning Mass restrictions, it reads, “Our people are hurting because they cannot come to church ... they cannot exercise their natural right.” The language utilized here differs notably from the language used in articles referencing racial disparities, in that the injustices there are not revealed. In the discussion of racial justice, the adversity of marginalized communities is not mentioned but shifted toward its relationship with God: “We have a sickness, we have an injustice, and Christ is here to heal us.” As it only addresses the topic broadly, there is a lack of consistency between the subjects of religious and racial discrimination. Your work represents a significant effort to explore such topics and I encourage you to keep doing so.
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