Statement from U.S. Bishops on Racism

Seven U.S. bishop chairmen of committees within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have issued a statement in the wake of the death of Mr. George Floyd and the protests which have broken out in Minneapolis and in other cities in the United States.

“We are broken-hearted, sickened, and outraged to watch another video of an African American man being killed before our very eyes”, says a statement released on Friday from U.S. Bishops. The statement comes in the wake of the death of a 46-year-old African American man named George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis on May 25. Since then, protests have broken out across the country, many peaceful, though some later turned violent.

“Racism is not a thing of the past or simply a throwaway political issue to be bandied about when convenient. It is a real and present danger that must be met head on,” continues the USCCB statement. “As members of the Church, we must stand for the more difficult right and just actions instead of the easy wrongs of indifference. We cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy, and justice.”

Click here to read the full statement from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Click here to read a statement from Archbishop José Gomez, president of the USCCB.