Catholic communities nationwide organize activities to battle racism

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African-American and white men embrace after taking part in a prayer circle July 10 following a Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas. (CNS photo/Carlo Allegri, Reuters)

by Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service | Aug. 26, 2016

WASHINGTON Around the country, Catholic organizations, parishes, clergy and laity are taking action and bolstering efforts to build peace and battle racism, following a summer of violence.
In New Orleans, St. Peter Claver Catholic Church is involved in community mediation with law enforcement and is working on a variety of other issues related to racial justice, including seeking just wages for all. In Baltimore, Auxiliary Bishop Denis Madden leads regular prayer walks in neighborhoods plagued by violence. He also participates in a group of interfaith leaders in the city to work toward racial justice.

In Dallas, the city that witnessed the height of summer's boiling point when a gunman opened fire on police -- killing five and wounding seven officers and two civilians -- during a protest, Holy Trinity Catholic Church is participating in gatherings with Dallas Area Interfaith, a group that brings various communities together to try to understand the problem of racism, as well as the recent shootings that took place.

Holy Trinity parishioner William deHass, who has attended some of the gatherings, says that based on what has been discussed at the interfaith group, "some churches ignore or avoid speaking about racism." But the aftermath of the violence has provided an opportunity for people of different races and faiths to listen and support one another, he said.

https://www.ncronline.org/news/justice/catholic-communities-nationwide-organize-activities-battle-racism

https://paxchristiusa.org/

https://networklobby.org/

http://www.wearesaltandlight.org/