A discussion with Herschella Conyers (University of Chicago Law School) and Vincent Rougeau (Boston College Law School), moderated by Eduardo Peñalver (Cornell Law School). This event was initially broadcast as a live web event Monday, June 22, 2020.
The cry in the streets of “no justice, no peace” echoes the teaching of Popes John XXIII and Paul VI. The recent crises have again brought to the fore the reality that interracial justice has eluded America, despite the promise of the civil rights movement. Slavery, its original sin, has dogged it from its founding. Segregation and mass incarceration continue this shameful legacy. Efforts to call Americans to take responsibility for this often find resistance in an individualistic ideology counter to the Catholic vision. Catholics find themselves on both sides of this history. The Gospel and Catholic social teaching clearly reject racism. Yet up to this moment, Catholic clergy and laity have often not lived up to this teaching, helping to sustain racism, rather than dismantle or reject it. If, as Pope Francis reminds us, we are all connected, then injustice anywhere is not only a threat to justice everywhere—it is injustice everywhere. In this event, we bring together a panel of distinguished legal scholars to discuss our current moment and whether Catholicism can move from being part of the problem to becoming part of the solution. For more information, see our website: http://lumenchristi.org/event/2020/06
In November 2018, the USCCB released a pastoral letter against racism—their first in almost 40 years. In honor of Black History Month, the Catholic Mobilizing Network is sharing our top 5 takeaways from the letter, because "racism is a life issue" and it "has no place in the Christian heart." Will you join us in building a culture of life? Watch the video HERE.