Racial Justice

14 September 2003

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On this Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, I want to write to you about the importance of racial justice both within the life of the church and in society at large. As there are increasing numbers of people coming into this country from abroad, whether it be to work in such areas as the National Health Service or to seek asylum, it is important that they feel welcomed and respected. Together we are brothers and sisters called to enrich the lives of one another by sharing our different cultures. Differences in culture can keep people apart and can be the cause of prejudice that can lead to violence. For us, as a Christian people, we cannot accept division between nationalities because when we celebrate the Eucharist we are brought into communion with God and with all people. The Eucharist proclaims that we are a catholic people – a people who have a sense of solidarity with all human beings.

The challenge of Racial Justice Sunday is to face up to the ways in which we fail to love in a universal way. When the People of Israel sinned and were bitten by the serpents, to find healing they had to look up and gaze upon the image of the serpent – the image of their sin and failure. So with Jesus – we look up and gaze upon the Crucified One and see the sin of human brutality and discrimination. But the cross of hatred is transformed by the love of God which makes the cross a symbol of love and life rather than death and destruction.

When we listen to the stories of discrimination that some of our Black and Asian sisters and brothers have had to endure, then we are facing the Cross. There are people like Agnes who came with her family from the Caribbean in the 1950s. She and her children went to Mass every Sunday. For a long time people would get out of their benches to avoid sitting next to her and her children. She persevered and now belongs to a parish that welcomes people from many ethnic groups. But there are others who did not persevere because they were not welcomed and they were made to feel outsiders. As strangers in a new country they looked to the Church for support and friendship and they found none.

Within our society there is racism that is both individual and institutional. This is a cause of great fear and loneliness. The Church has spoken out against this and many individual Catholics as well as Catholic organisations, working with other Christians, have been tireless in trying to create good community relations. Part of that work is being honest with ourselves, recognising where racism is still present in our Church communities.

With a growing ethnic diversity in so many of our parishes, how do we welcome new people and celebrate liturgically diversity in culture? Are people of the wide spectrum of ethnic origin to be found in various parish ministries; in leadership roles; as school governors? Does everyone feel a full member of our parish communities or is there sometimes still a sense of "them and us"?

This weekend delegates from our Diocese join with others at the Catholic Association for Racial Justice Congress entitled "People of Colour, People of God". They will be celebrating the gift of diversity and telling stories of pain and hope, of discrimination and acceptance. The delegates have pledged themselves to help make our parishes truly catholic, universal; communities of hospitality and hope. I would ask you all to pray and to work for the realisation of such communities so that as a church we can be a People of Hope. To help in this, we have our own Diocesan Committee for Community Relations and I ask for your support in their work.

The Gospel today proclaims that God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son. Jesus accepted death on a cross so that the wounds of sin and division might be healed. As followers of Jesus we are pledged to give our lives to the healing of sin, hatred and division. May God bless us and give us the strength to do this work.

With my best wishes and prayers
Bishop of Clifton

To be read and made available in all Churches and Chapels in the Diocese on the feast of Holy Cross, Sunday 14 September 2003