In August 2020, when Bishop Michael F. Burbidge announced his intention to create the Advisory Council on Racism, I was encouraged by his clear and loving message that we are all God’s children. I was further convinced that he wanted to put in the work by his response to the listening sessions held that acknowledged the real pain still felt by some in the diocese because of racism.
When I was appointed to the council later that year, Bishop Burbidge made it clear that he wanted the help of the faithful to understand how the wounds of racism can be healed. In addition to serving on the council, I had the privilege of working with the U.S. bishops’ intercultural encounter event called “Journeying Together” in 2022, as well as attending the Catholic Social Teaching Conference in Washington earlier this year. Both fostered participation on a national level in the promotion of racial healing within our communities.
We cannot change the past — the history is written. We can, however, as a united family in Christ, write the future. After prayerful consideration, I accepted Bishop Burbidge’s invitation to be the new chair of the Advisory Council on Racism, with racial harmony being our theme moving forward.
With this in mind, several new members have been appointed to the Advisory Council on Racism, representing our Korean, Filipino and Hispanic communities.
A primary focus of the council will be to work on recruitment and collaboration with ministries in the diocese that are promoting racial harmony and social justice at the parish level. Additionally, we will provide up-to-date resources that can be used at the parish, school and organizational levels to provide accurate education and understanding on the topics that influence racism. We will offer a diocesan prayer card for racial harmony and encourage prayer services throughout the diocese to pray for peace and healing of issues involving race.
As Catholics, we strive to embrace Jesus’ challenge to work together as his people to address injustices in society. This call leads us to focus our efforts primarily in our local communities, where sins of racism can be seen most clearly. However, we also recognize that the context of our mission is situated in the historical understanding of racism within our nation and throughout the world. Therefore, as we focus locally on these issues, this historical context will help us maintain solidarity as noted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: “We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be.”
Walking humbly with our God compels us to combat racism with love. We are guided by the Holy Spirit to engage with our communities, encouraging and creating dialogue with those whom we might not normally encounter. Doing this will aid in our goal of continuing to foster racial harmony and healing within our communities and will help us be more closely united as brothers and sisters.
“You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Bentley, a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Alexandria, is chair of the diocesan Advisory Council on Racism.
Find out more
The Advisory Council on Racism welcomes participation and collaboration with ministries, schools, parishes and other groups in the diocese, especially parish social justice groups and multicultural programs. To get involved, contact Christian Bentley at [email protected].
The Good Shepherd