The following are statements from Catholic leaders, religious orders and organizations which condemn racism and promote active engagement toward promoting reconciliation, peace, and a rededication toward building God’s kingdom in all of its rich and profound diversity. _____________ Pope Francis June 3, 2020 Dear brothers and sisters in the United States, I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd. My friends, we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life. At the same time, we have to recognise that “the violence of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost”. Today I join the Church in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and in the entire United States, in praying for the repose of the soul of George Floyd and of all those others who have lost their lives as a result of the sin of racism. Let us pray for the consolation of their grieving families and friends and let us implore the national reconciliation and peace for which we yearn. May Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of America, intercede for all those who work for peace and justice in your land and throughout the world. May God bless all of you and your families. ______________________________ Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn June 5, 2020 We, the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, are deeply saddened and affected by the recent death of George Floyd and all others who have lost their lives as a result of the sin of racism. Our hearts go out to all those affected, especially the family and friends of George Floyd. A followers of St. Francis of Assisi, faithful to the Gospel call to love, we strongly condemn any type of disrespect, racism, violence, intolerance, hate, or bigotry either in action or word. We stand in solidarity with our African American brothers and sisters who peacefully demand an end to the deadly violence of racism in our nation. We will not be indifferent when their God-given value, dignity, and worth are violated. As men of faith, we condemn the sin of systemic racism that has led to these events and we dedicate ourselves to ending racial injustice by treating all people as St. Francis would – with dignity and respect. We begin, anew, by directing our energies to greater understanding, compassion, and love for one another so that we may continue to create a world of justice and freedom. ___________________________________________________ The Order of Friars Minor – Six United States Provinces June 3, 2020 SYSTEMIC RACISM MUST END: STATEMENT FROM THE 6 US OFM PROVINCES IN THE PROCESS OF UNION At a time when the COVID-19 virus has disproportionately attacked people of color, we have witnessed the killing of Mr. George Floyd and the protests, sometimes violent, which have occurred in our cities in its aftermath. Our hearts go out to all affected. Even though, following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, we decry violence and desire peace, we stand in solidarity with our outraged African American brothers and sisters who demand an end to the deadly violence of racism. We cannot be indifferent when their God- given dignity is violated. As people of faith, we not only condemn the systemic racism that has led to these events, but we also re-dedicate ourselves to ending racial injustice in our Provinces, in our Church, and in our nation and creating that space where Dr. Martin Luther King’s Beloved Community will flourish. ____________________________________________ United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Statement of U.S. Bishops’ President on George Floyd and the Protests in American Cities May 31, 2020 WASHINGTON – Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued a statement on George Floyd and the protests in American cities that have taken place over the last several days. This follows the Friday statement from seven U.S. bishop chairmen of committees within the USCCB. Archbishop Gomez’s full statement follows: The killing of George Floyd was senseless and brutal, a sin that cries out to heaven for justice. How is it possible that in America, a black man’s life can be taken from him while calls for help are not answered, and his killing is recorded as it happens? I am praying for George Floyd and his loved ones, and on behalf of my brother bishops, I share the outrage of the black community and those who stand with them in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and across the country. The cruelty and violence he suffered does not reflect on the majority of good men and women in law enforcement, who carry out their duties with honor. We know that. And we trust that civil authorities will investigate his killing carefully and make sure those responsible are held accountable. We should all understand that the protests we are seeing in our cities reflect the justified frustration and anger of millions of our brothers and sisters who even today experience humiliation, indignity, and unequal opportunity only because of their race or the color of their skin. It should not be this way in America. Racism has been tolerated for far too long in our way of life. It is true what Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, that riots are the language of the unheard. We should be doing a lot of listening right now. This time, we should not fail to hear what people are saying through their pain. We need to finally root out the racial injustice that still infects too many areas of American society. But the violence of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost. Let us keep our eyes on the prize of true and lasting change. Legitimate protests should not be exploited by persons who have different values and agendas. Burning and looting communities, ruining the livelihoods of our neighbors, does not advance the cause of racial equality and human dignity. We should not let it be said that George Floyd died for no reason. We should honor the sacrifice of his life by removing racism and hate from our hearts and renewing our commitment to fulfill our nation’s sacred promise — to be a beloved community of life, liberty, and equality for all. ___________________________ Congregation of St. Joseph Leadership Conference of Women Religious May 29, 2020 We, the Congregation of St. Joseph, unite our minds, hearts, prayer and action with the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, in support of the following statement. LCWR Condemns Killing of George Floyd The Leadership Conference of Women Religious strongly condemns the police-killing of another black man on the streets of our nation. Our hearts are breaking as we mourn with the family and friends of George Floyd and with all who have lost loved ones to law enforcement violence, all who live in fear, all whose dignity is threatened. The continued killing of black men and women; the constant harassment of people of color; and the denial of the rights and dignity of our African American neighbors must end now. Racism is America’s original sin. It is a virus every bit as deadly as COVID-19 that has infected our nation since its inception and unless and until we address it, people of color will continue to die and our nation will never heal. Racism, whether the institutional racism which privileges some at the expense others or the daily acts of hate and discrimination diminishes us all. It denies that most profound truth, that all of us are created in God’s image and each of us is entitled to dignity and respect. As women religious we acknowledge our own complicity in institutional racism; we ask forgiveness of our sisters and brothers of color; and we pray for our nation’s healing, and we know that is not enough. It is time for bold, decisive action. We pledge to raise our voices and to act now to end this scourge which has cost us so dearly. It is long past time to dismantle white privilege and rededicate ourselves to building God’s beloved community. We urge Hennepin County Attorney, Mike Freeman, to pledge a just and timely adjudication of this tragedy. We call on the people of the United states to work with greater urgency to eliminate the systemic racism that infects the very soul of our nation. We ask God’s blessing on the struggle that lies ahead. _______________ Diocese of Brooklyn, Bishop DiMarzio May 31, 2020 The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, has issued the following statement regarding this week’s racially divisive events in Minneapolis and New York City that have sparked tensions in those cities and throughout the Nation, calling for our response to be peaceful in the face of the evil that is racism: "In Minneapolis, a black man suspected of a crime was handcuffed and brutalized by a policeman, which caused his death. The same week here in New York, a woman called police on a man falsely claiming he was threatening her with harm – his only crime was being a person of color. These instances have led to protests and violence since persons of color feel they have no recourse. We Christians must be fierce in our opposition to the evil of racism, but we must respond peacefully and remember the Lord’s call to us to love one another as He loves us.” ____________________________ Sisters of Charity of New York June 3, 2020 Sisters of Charity Statement on the Death of George Floyd and Racism in the United States SCNY Pin The Sisters of Charity of New York stand in solidarity with all who are enraged and distressed by the cruel and senseless killing of George Floyd.