![]() Mindful of its duty to be the advocate for whose who hunger and thirst for justice's sake, the Church cannot remain silent about the racial injustices in society and its own structures. We must be sensitive to the unfortunate and unnecessary racial tension that results from this kind of economic need. The Church must not be unmindful of these economic pressures. The economic pressures exacerbate racism, particularly where poor white people are competing with minorities for limited job opportunities. Racial identity is for them an iron curtain barring the way to a decent life and livelihood. As economic pressures tighten, those people who are often black, Hispanic, Native American and Asian - and always poor - slip further into the unending cycle of poverty, deprivation, ignorance, disease, and crime. Major segments of the population are being pushed to the margins of society in our nation. Because it is less blatant, this subtle form of racism is in some respects even more dangerous - harder to combat and easier to ignore. This new economic crisis reveals an unresolved racism that permeates our society's structures and resides in the hearts of many among the majority. In this atmosphere, the poor and racial minorities are being asked to bear the heaviest burden of the new economic pressures. We are entering an era characterized by limited resources, restricted job markets and dwindling revenues. Our economic structures are undergoing fundamental changes which threaten to intensify social inequalities in our nation. Movement toward authentic justice demands a simultaneous attack on both evils. Racism and economic oppression are distinct but interrelated forces which dehumanize our society. ![]() ![]() In response to this mood, we wish to call attention to the persistent presence of racism and in particular to the relationship between racial and economic justice. The climate of crisis engendered by demonstrations, protest, and confrontation has given way to a mood of indifference and other issues occupy our attention. Today the sense of urgency has yielded to an apparent acceptance of the status quo. But neither can it be denied that too often what has happened has only been a covering over, not a fundamental change. We do not deny that the ugly external features of racism which marred our society have in part been eliminated. We do not deny that changes have been made, that laws have been passed, that policies have been implemented. We are convinced that the majority of Americans realize that racial discrimination is both unjust and unworthy of this nation. (1) A decade later in a second pastoral letter we again underscored the continuing scandal of racism called for decisive action to eradicate it from our society.(2) We recognize and applaud the readiness of many Americans to make new strides forward in reducing and eliminating prejudice against minorities. We pointed out the moral evil that denied human persons their dignity as children of God and their God-given rights. In 1958 we spoke out against the blatant forms of racism that divided people through discriminatory laws and enforced segregation. In large part it is only external appearances which have changed. Despite apparent advances and even significant changes in the last two decades, the reality of racism remains. Racism is an evil which endures in our society and in our Church.
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