September 20, 2019

Archbishop Thompson, bishops to take part in racism listening session on Sept. 30 at Marian University

Criterion staff report

Archbishop Charles C. Thompson is one of seven bishops who will participate in a Listening Session on Racism at the Michael A. Evans Building of Marian University, 3200 Cold Spring Road, in Indianapolis, from 6-8 p.m. on Sept. 30.

The U.S. bishops last November overwhelmingly approved a pastoral letter on racism titled “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love.” Gatherings are being held across the country in response.

The pastoral letter states “racial acts are sinful because they violate justice. … They reveal a failure to acknowledge the human dignity of the person offended, to recognize them as the neighbors Christ calls us to love,” it adds.

All are invited to listen with the bishops as five groups of people tell their stories of experiencing racism. The goal is to help lay, religious and clerical leaders and bishops continue with—or start to form—an action plan against racism.

Those in attendance will have the opportunity to write their story of experiencing racism on cards that will be given to Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, head of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, La., to take to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, which he chairs.

In addition to Archbishop Thompson and Bishop Fabre, the bishops of Indiana’s four other dioceses and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry of Chicago are scheduled to participate in the listening session.

The event is free, although registration is requested at bit.ly/2MvZf2s (case sensitive).

For more information, contact Pearlette Springer, archdiocesan Black Catholic Ministry coordinator, at pspringer@archindy.org, 317-236-1474 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1474. †

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