No going back

June 22, 2020
Maureen O’Riordan Lundy
San Francisco
 
I read an inspiring article, which I credit at the end.
 
Will the racism crisis be addressed on an archdiocesan and on a parish level, or will we resume Mass and include our concern in the petitions? There are many questions about how we live our faith in this moment, which we need to address together. The situation cries out for leadership. The hope demonstrated in the protest marches needs to be met with immediate response.
 
I am 60-plus years old and ashamed to say that it took this present crisis for me to come to any real or practical understanding of my position in society vis-a-vis the oppression of people of color and in particular of black Americans. How could this happen?
 
I have been somewhat aware, shocked by isolated events presented in the news, vaguely contrite when confronted by pastoral letters, etc., and have never taken responsibility for coming to grips with the nature of the privilege in which I have thrived and prospered. I am a little late, retired now with a very limited sphere of influence. However, from this point, for me, there is no going back.
 
I wish I felt this way about church leadership.
 
Matthew 5:20-26 … go first and be reconciled with your brother … (today’s Gospel, June 11) prompts me to ask: Can we reopen our churches on a new page, a transparent one – 100% color conscious?
 
This letter was prompted by an article. “When will the US bishops address the evil of systemic racism head-on?” by Daniel Horan, OFM (National Catholic Reporter, June 10, 2020).
 

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