“Every person is worthy of respect regardless of their race, religion, or country of origin. We must journey together to promote reconciliation in society for the future must be better than the past.”
This was the message that Wilton Cardinal Gregory conveyed to those gathered at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University last Thursday evening. The archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. opened the university’s “Faith Leaders for Racial Justice” lecture series with powerful words encouraging all in attendance to counter the sin of racism.
Cardinal Gregory acknowledged that society is well aware of injustices committed against people of color, ones that have “damaged the psyche and soul of our nation.” While some work has been accomplished to make reparations for those injustices, so much more must be done to achieve justice and healing. The Church, he said, has been—and should continue to be—at the forefront of racial justice and reconciliation.
“Faith leaders must step up and give witness to this justice. The job of any faith leader is to anchor their lives in prayer. God uses [us] to bring His word alive and rebuild humanity,” said Cardinal Gregory, the first African American Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. “We approach each day with hope and find ourselves in conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. As Catholics, we are committed to work that isn’t easy.”
To accomplish this, Cardinal Gregory said that all people—clergy and laity alike—are responding to this work with the love of Christ, following the road map that Pope Francis has provided, one that challenges us to have real encounters each day with the “other” and to work effectively together.
“We must learn to love the ‘others’ who may not be like us but who have unique gifts and beauty to share,” the Cardinal said. “They will enrich our lives because of who they are. Remember that every human being is made in the image and likeness of God.”
“Follow the Commandments,” he continued. “Love God and love your neighbor. How can we open our hearts to this? What more can we do?” One way, he said, is to make all places, including our Catholic churches, ones of hospitality and welcome to everyone. “We must all experience ongoing conversion to fight the injustice.”
In addition to Pope Francis, Cardinal Gregory referenced St. Martin de Porres, St. Peter Claver, and Sr. Thea Bowman, prominent Catholic leaders whose lives of prayer and works of charity can guide us as we advocate for justice in the 21st century. As society is bombarded with such negativity—the war in Ukraine, severe weather events, and continued racial reconning—it is our duty, he added, to search our hearts and minds and ask, “Do our actions reflect Jesus’ message of an equitable society for all?”
Following Cardinal Gregory’s lecture, members of the Fairfield University community, including two students, two faculty members, and Rev. Paul Rourke, S.J., vice president for Mission and Ministry, joined the Cardinal on the Quick Center stage for a panel discussion and questions from the audience. In addition to continuing the conversation about racial justice, the Cardinal shared stories of growing up on the south side of Chicago and attending Catholic schools, even though he was not a Catholic. The nuns and priests at St. Carthage Grammar School had such a powerful influence on him, he said, that “after just two weeks, I knew I wanted to be a priest!” But, he added, laughing, they said he first had to become a Catholic, which he did at the Easter Vigil in 1959.
In response to a comment about reparations, Cardinal Gregory said, “What do we want to happen in the next century? We must make sure the future is more in line with the Gospel.”
“As faith leaders, we cannot become comfortable or even fatigued,” he added. “We must model Christ in every way we can.”
This lecture series is one that Father Rourke said is “dedicated to telling the story of faith’s role in promoting racial equity and the dignity of all people. The story of the Abolition movement, the Civil Rights movement, and the ongoing work of building a just society are all interwoven with the story of faith and the work of faith leaders. Cardinal Gregory [helps] us tell that story.”
And that story is one to which all people can contribute. “Some think we have to do big things,” Cardinal Gregory said. “If we do little things, we can accomplish so much together. Our faith requires us to do this.”
