Exam 2 Flashcards
Sisters of Selma- Why did the sisters go to Selma?
Heard call to help bring peace and use the CST, show dignity for ALL lives. They had a sense for solidarity and wanted rights for ALL.
-Vatican II : a meeting in Rome where Bishops all over come to update CST. This influenced sister to go
- both black and white sisters went to Selma
- African American black Catholic women weren’t welcomed into Catholic life.
What was the situation in Selma regarding voting and political life?
Economically- cotton/low income, Selma had largest black middle class
Politically- white race is in charge, exclusively white
Voting- out of 15000 only 300 African Americans could vote. Very extensive process to vote, interviews, questions, very intimidating. (unequal treatment, how the whites wanted it)
What did they accomplish? (Sister of Selma)
They got national support because the march was broadcasted on National tv.
- year 2000 Mayer Smitherman wasn’t re-elected
- First black mayor was elected (James Perkins)
How was the ambiguity of their situation reflected in Catholic social teaching on racism?
Lots of bishops and cardinals were telling them not to get involved. To stay home. The Catholic community wasn’t following it well. But it is in the CST that everyone must try to stop racism, advocate, for all and everyone is created equal in God’s eyes. It was not clear cut.
“Race: The power of an Illusion”: definition of race
An idea or a concept, its a social construct. NOT biological
-when looking at genetics of other backgrounds of whites and blacks there is no difference.
How are the central themes in Catholic social teaching expressed in teaching on racism?
Principles:
- human dignity: created in God’s image and likeliness. Equal dignity and value from conception-death
- common good- everyone is responsible to contribute to good of society. We are apart of communities that effect us
- global solidarity:We are one human family
- Rights and responsibilities: everyone has right to basic neccesssities. we have responsibility to protect others
“Race: The power of an illusion”: nonconcordance
w/ concordance= everyone in a certain place has/doesn’t have a certain trait
-Have NOT found in any race that there is one trait that all people have in that race/culture. There is no connection
“Race: The power of an illusion”: WhIN tribe
White, Indian (not from India), Negro
-group that looked white but was mixed race. Very interesting.
“Race: The power of an illusion”: basketball stars
Jewish men were dominating in basketball
“Race: The power of an illusion”: importance of geography
As you walk further away from the equator its just a gradual change in color
“Race: The power of an illusion”: Importance of mitochondrial DNA as a genetic map
Students were asked to test their mitochondria DNA and before knowing the results to think about who they would be most similar to. When getting results back, they found they were all the same. This shows that we are all so similar with people all over the world.
History of Catholic social teaching on racism and current situation
Its ambiguous. Church has not lived up to its own principle. The Catholic church had a document called, “Brothers and Sisters to us” showing the bishops wasnted to say something on racism but bishops were also mainly white.
Harry Flynn’s pastoral letter on racism “in God’s image”
-How does he define racism?
- Racism is a sin
- idea that one race is superior to another
- defines it as prejudice +power
- its overt (obvious) and covert (hidden)
- institutional and individual
- In the society and in church
- its personal
- it denies human dignity (all created in God’s image) and denies are unity as one human family.
Harry Flynn’s pastoral letter on racism “in God’s image”
-Does structural (institutional) racism exist?
Yes
- +1/3 African American children under 3 live in poverty which is 3x amount of whites
- murder defendants charged with killing whites were 4x more likely to receive death penalty than those charged with killing blacks
What are the two types of racism Harry talked about?
Individual- person adopts attitudes and actions based on assumptions of racial superiority
-Institutional (structual)- exists in systems and institutions of society
Harry Flynn’s pastoral letter on racism “in God’s image”
-On what basses does he claim racism is a sin?
Denies are unity as human family
against global solidarity
denies that we are all created in God’s image
threatens our salvation (won’t be w/God when die)
goes against common good and to love each other
Harry Flynn’s pastoral letter on racism “in God’s image”
Practical suggestions for personal life?
WE need to realize the problem. Avoid it and point our racism
Harry Flynn’s pastoral letter on racism “in God’s image”
Practical suggestions for church life?
Get church to be more inviting
let diff. races be comfortable with sharing
A spot at the table for everyone
Appreciate others differences and gifts