Catholic approaches to confroning harrassment and abuse based on race, religion, etc

[fnr]

I am really hoping to avoid partisan bickering here. Please, help me to brainstorm how we as Catholics confront bigotry.

I live in a city where within the last two weeks, two different Muslim women have been subject to unacceptable treatment: one was pushed down a hill and one was threatened with being set on fire if she didn’t remove her hijab (head scarf). Also since the election, a friend’s Jewish law school professor received an anonymous hand-written note, referring to him as a “kike” and used Nazi slogans against Jews in what seemed to be an attempt at intimidation.

For whatever reason, the U.S. election seems to have sent a signal to a (hopefully small) subset of the population that feels that such behavior is acceptable. The size of the actual population involved, we may not know precision. However, there is good reason to believe that it’s less than about 20% of the overall U.S. population, and hopefully lower still. An Economist/YouGov poll of 2000 people intended to represent the “U.S. general population” in January 2016 found that 13% of respondents strongly or moderately disagreed with the executive order that “Freed all slaves in the states that were in rebellion against the federal government” (i.e., the Emancipation Proclamation). In the same poll, 18% strongly or moderately disagreed with the executive order that “Desegregated the military.” Still, people’s response to a poll and their willingness to engage in verbal, written, or physical coercion are likely to be very different. I would hope (and guess) that only a small fraction of even those people disagreeing with the Emancipation Proclamation would act with prejudice. Also, I realize that I’m mixing and matching racial prejudice and religious prejudice, but to me, they’re all unacceptable.

How do we, as faithful Catholics, make it clear that this type of harassment and abuse is simply unacceptable? Prayer, yes, but we have been witnesses for the unborn outside Planned Parenthood facilities. How can we be witnesses against this type of behavior? What actions can we take?

 

[the_phoenix]

There has been harassment and abuse on both sides. It needs to stop on both sides. It will take nothing less than conversion … a change of heart.

Prayer, fasting, reparation … yes. The Rosary, Holy Hours of Adoration, denying yourself food or other simple pleasures like radio, TV, Internet time.

And I’ve heard it said that there’s a form of prayer being neglected … the prayer of action.

We need more people like Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

…

“Acknowledge God, take the next right step, be a sign of hope to those around you.” ~~ Charlie Johnston

We must remind people by our thoughts, words and deeds that each and every one of us are made in the image and likeness of God.

…

 

[Crusaderbear]

The problem needsxto go beyond anecdotal stories - the victims need to id the perpetrators and press charges, then the courts need to find them guilty and mete out justice. This is still America, we all need to act like it! Somebody knows who is committing these crimes, report it.

 

[Lea101]

Well, besides the fact that they need to report these things, we can help by first, being nice to these groups. Being educated about them is also helpful. For example, learn about subtle racism (a LOT of people are guilty of this, do not deny it. People who think they are good people are also guilty of this) and call it out when you see it. Be a listening ear instead of trying to make it all about you (no offense, but when i see someone talking about racism, someone always have to butt in and say stuff like “we white people have it hard too”, don’t do that. Let them vent, listen). There’s a time and place for everything!

When you see harassment taking place, stand beside the victim and support him/her bravely. If you can, it would be good to film in case proof is needed, but make sure you are safe.

If you want to banish the “Christianity is a white man’s religion” stereotype, i guess it’s a good idea to preach equality. Like…speak out about how the church sees us all as equal, stuff like that. Too many christian have said really problematic stuff in the name of God, so don’t expect a huge difference. But it’s always a good idea to do that.

 

[lynnvinc]

We are studying a similar problem in the Catholic Church in India, where caste Catholics (it seems more than Hindus) discriminate against, abuse, and commit atrocities against Dalits (untouchables). The Catholic Church in India is fairly mute on this, tho JPII has spoken out about and against it in speeches to the Indian Bishops. Some of the bishops are even actively going along with and even discriminating against Dalits.

Unfortunately the Communist Party of India is the only party or group taking up the issue of discrimination against Catholic Dalits. One might think that is weird since Marxists are considered to be against religion, but in India (which is a very religious country, more so than the US), the CPI is “religious neutral” sort of like the US, neither supporting a particular religion nor denouncing any religion, but leaving it up the individual as a personal choice.

I’m thinking such discrimination and atrocities (such as the recent burning of a Cathlic Dalit alive, apparently by several Catholics, including a priest) is a very serious sin and that their souls are in jeopardy, and the bishops and priest are supposed to be shepherds of souls.

As for the US, we’ve experienced discrimination from the get-go (my husband is a Catholic from India). I know it is worse with the Trump campaign. I’ve heard how students are taunting Latinos, and some younger ones are running home crying that they will be deported (even tho they are citizens born in the US). Also Americans have been attacking Sikh Americans (they wear a distinctive turban, but are not Muslims) esp ever since 9/11–there was that massacre in Wisconsin at a Sikh temple some years back–but that has increased since the Trump campaign, so much so, that they are being advised to wear body cameras to collect evidence.

We have to speak out against racial/ethnic/caste discrimination and atrocities. I’ve noticed that the Catholic Church in America did a good job in the 60s, but I almost never hear anything in church about it for the past several decades. This needs to be renewed, and perhaps groups started in parishes to mount campaigns. Also that’s needed in India re the Dalit Catholics; it is esp important for non-minority persons to get involved to show their solidarity and support.

 

[RedBasket]

How in the world is it not automatic to help, NO matter who is being set upon? And those ones who burned that lower caste man, how dare they call themselves Catholic!!

“He that knows to do right, and doesnt do it, to him it is sin”.

I get so disgusted.

 

[lynnvinc]

How in the world is it not automatic to help, NO matter who is being set upon? And those ones who burned that lower caste man, how dare they call themselves Catholic!!

“He that knows to do right, and doesnt do it, to him it is sin”.

I get so disgusted.

It is disgusting. When we told our nephew (a Catholic Indian in Singapore) about that and all the other evils committed by Catholics against Dalits, he was very upset and said it really hurts him, almost indicating a physical pain.

The bishops of India have recently (last week) recognized for the first time that untouchability exists within the Catholic Church in India and have come out with a policy paper aimed at ending it. However, these statements are rarely followed. JPII admonished the Indian bishops in 2003 in a statement to end casteism and discrimination against Dalits, but no one has actually been following it.

All I can say is that our beautiful Church is great at the top. Pope Francis is a tremendous example of Christ’s love for the people, esp the poor and marginalized. And there are wonderful Catholic orgs and people at the lower level who do wonderful things.

It is just a never-ending battle while we are here on earth to work against evil and injustice in the Church and in the world.

As my husband says, that’s why they write R.I.P. on our gravestones, because that’s the only time we’ll get to rest

 

[SuperLuigi]

As for the US, we’ve experienced discrimination from the get-go (my husband is a Catholic from India). I know it is worse with the Trump campaign. I’ve heard how students are taunting Latinos, and some younger ones are running home crying that they will be deported (even tho they are citizens born in the US).

Here are attacks on Trump supporters:

dailycaller.com/2016/11/17/heres-a-list-of-completely-substantiated-and-underreported-attacks-on-trump-supporters/

Also Americans have been attacking Sikh Americans (they wear a distinctive turban, but are not Muslims) esp ever since 9/11–there was that massacre in Wisconsin at a Sikh temple some years back–but that has increased since the Trump campaign, so much so, that they are being advised to wear body cameras to collect evidence.

The WI incident happened long before the 2016 campaign.

The only attacks I have heard of are fake hate crimes that result in the person acting as the victim being charged with filing false police reports.

We have to speak out against racial/ethnic/caste discrimination and atrocities.

Speaking out against supremacist sections like Black Lives Matter and the Aztlan movement is a good start.

QUOTE] it is esp important for non-minority persons to get involved to show their solidarity and support.

They won’t if they are being attacked or told at American universities to feel ashamed while everyone else gets a safe space.

 

[lynnvinc]

Here are attacks on Trump supporters:

dailycaller.com/2016/11/17/heres-a-list-of-completely-substantiated-and-underreported-attacks-on-trump-supporters/

The WI incident happened long before the 2016 campaign.

The only attacks I have heard of are fake hate crimes that result in the person acting as the victim being charged with filing false police reports.

Speaking out against supremacist sections like Black Lives Matter and the Aztlan movement is a good start.

QUOTE] it is esp important for non-minority persons to get involved to show their solidarity and support.

They won’t if they are being attacked or told at American universities to feel ashamed while everyone else gets a safe space.
I’m sure you have your own experiences of experiencing or not experiencing racism and discrimination, and we have our experiences.

In India the upper caste Catholics nearly always say, “there’s no discrimination or problem regarding the Dalits in the Catholic Church.”

Then from the Dalit Catholics we hear about all the discrimination and atrocities they face at the hands of upper caste Catholics.

This is probably the case for America too - with the majority people thinking & saying there is no race/ethnicity problem and the minority people saying they are experiencing it, even though it seems to be much less in the US than in India.

 

[SuperLuigi]

This is probably the case for America too - with the majority people thinking & saying there is no race/ethnicity problem and the minority people saying they are experiencing it, even though it seems to be much less in the US than in India.

First of all, you keep avoiding discussing the attacks on DJT supporters. That’s part of the problem, especially in American universities.

Second, people in the majority are sick and tired of being told they need to feel ashamed of themselves in order to help minorities. If that’s what they need to do, they’re not interested in helping, and really who could blame them. They are called racist and sexist no matter what they do.

That is what is also disgusting.

 

[Matilda_Bennett]

Please remember that discussions of particular political figures or parties are not allowed in the Social Justice forum. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

[lynnvinc]

First of all, you keep avoiding discussing the attacks on DJT supporters. That’s part of the problem, especially in American universities.

Second, people in the majority are sick and tired of being told they need to feel ashamed of themselves in order to help minorities. If that’s what they need to do, they’re not interested in helping, and really who could blame them. They are called racist and sexist no matter what they do.

That is what is also disgusting.

Not ALL members of the majority are racist or discriminate. The point is that enough do so to make life miserable for Dalits and other minorities. Most minority persons from my experience very much like majority people who do not discriminate and are not prejudiced against them, and especially appreciate it if majority persons have some understanding of and sympathy for the discrimination and racism that minorities do suffer.

RE college campuses, I hear you, and agree that attacking people because they support someone they don’t like is really bad. During my early college years in the late 60s I supported a politician that made me unpopular on campus and I experienced flak for that.

That our culture has become less civil and attacks more virulent since then is a very bad thing.

 

[lynnvinc]

Getting back to the OP, we know a Dalit priest in India who is a exemplar of the Catholic approach to confronting harassment and abuse based on race, religion, etc.

He has suffered from it and has a lot of sympathy for Dalits who suffer from it and is trying to help them in whatever ways he can, within Christian means and in obedience to his bishop (who is of the caste that discriminates and would like to ignore the problem).

This priest is very humble and low-keyed, but does not give up in addressing the abuse. It seems to be working as his bishop is softening somewhat, and the bishops in general are coming out and admitting there is untouchability and discrimination against Dalits within the Catholic Church.

The priest persists in his humble and holy way. It works, but it is a very slow process.

 

[Lea101]

This thread reminded me of that recent viral video…the one where an elderly white woman was shouting at a latina woman, and she said something about how that woman should speak English because she is in America, and she also assumed that woman was on welfare and made a jab towards that…everyone else just stood and watch the incident…some people online supported her because “we don’t know what happened before this was filmed”

Yes…majority groups always get lumped together and are labelled with something negative, but it’s because a portion-the bad one-are very vocal. We should always stand up against discrimination instead of watching silently, or pretending that said discrimination does not exist and only the discrimination against your people exist. Imagine what would happen if everyone watching that incident told the woman off for harassing her? Well a lot of people would see that not all of _______ are racist/sexist/homophobic/etc. The video would be circulating to show how loving people are, as opposed to how they just stood there and stared

 

[TheAmazingGrace]

I am really hoping to avoid partisan bickering here. Please, help me to brainstorm how we as Catholics confront bigotry.

I live in a city where within the last two weeks, two different Muslim women have been subject to unacceptable treatment: one was pushed down a hill and one was threatened with being set on fire if she didn’t remove her hijab (head scarf). Also since the election, a friend’s Jewish law school professor received an anonymous hand-written note, referring to him as a “kike” and used Nazi slogans against Jews in what seemed to be an attempt at intimidation.

For whatever reason, the U.S. election seems to have sent a signal to a (hopefully small) subset of the population that feels that such behavior is acceptable. The size of the actual population involved, we may not know precision. However, there is good reason to believe that it’s less than about 20% of the overall U.S. population, and hopefully lower still. An Economist/YouGov poll of 2000 people intended to represent the “U.S. general population” in January 2016 found that 13% of respondents strongly or moderately disagreed with the executive order that “Freed all slaves in the states that were in rebellion against the federal government” (i.e., the Emancipation Proclamation). In the same poll, 18% strongly or moderately disagreed with the executive order that “Desegregated the military.” Still, people’s response to a poll and their willingness to engage in verbal, written, or physical coercion are likely to be very different. I would hope (and guess) that only a small fraction of even those people disagreeing with the Emancipation Proclamation would act with prejudice. Also, I realize that I’m mixing and matching racial prejudice and religious prejudice, but to me, they’re all unacceptable.

How do we, as faithful Catholics, make it clear that this type of harassment and abuse is simply unacceptable? Prayer, yes, but we have been witnesses for the unborn outside Planned Parenthood facilities. How can we be witnesses against this type of behavior? What actions can we take?

I’ve read that one of the best things to do to help someone who is being threatened is to sidle in and strike up a conversation with the victim, ignoring the aggressor. And of course, we have to be willing to admonish people we know when they say things/act in ways that are unloving toward other groups.

 

[lynnvinc]

I’ve read that one of the best things to do to help someone who is being threatened is to sidle in and strike up a conversation with the victim, ignoring the aggressor. And of course, we have to be willing to admonish people we know when they say things/act in ways that are unloving toward other groups.

After 9/11 when lots of negativities were being thrown at Muslims and even my husband (a Catholic Indian got nasty stares and meanness thrown at him…bec I guess he looked like a Muslim), the president of my OCDS Carmelite group told of going to a garage sale shortly after 9/11 and saw a Muslim-looking woman coming down the driveway from the sale. She gave the woman a big smile (telling us that ordinarily she would not have gone out of her way to do so), and the woman gave her back the biggest smile.

That is the Little Way of Spiritual Childhood (St. Therese) – just do little good things in ordinary life and offer them to God.

 

[Col103]

I am really hoping to avoid partisan bickering here. Please, help me to brainstorm how we as Catholics confront bigotry.

I live in a city where within the last two weeks, two different Muslim women have been subject to unacceptable treatment: one was pushed down a hill and one was threatened with being set on fire if she didn’t remove her hijab (head scarf). Also since the election, a friend’s Jewish law school professor received an anonymous hand-written note, referring to him as a “kike” and used Nazi slogans against Jews in what seemed to be an attempt at intimidation.

For whatever reason, the U.S. election seems to have sent a signal to a (hopefully small) subset of the population that feels that such behavior is acceptable. The size of the actual population involved, we may not know precision. However, there is good reason to believe that it’s less than about 20% of the overall U.S. population, and hopefully lower still. An Economist/YouGov poll of 2000 people intended to represent the “U.S. general population” in January 2016 found that 13% of respondents strongly or moderately disagreed with the executive order that “Freed all slaves in the states that were in rebellion against the federal government” (i.e., the Emancipation Proclamation). In the same poll, 18% strongly or moderately disagreed with the executive order that “Desegregated the military.” Still, people’s response to a poll and their willingness to engage in verbal, written, or physical coercion are likely to be very different. I would hope (and guess) that only a small fraction of even those people disagreeing with the Emancipation Proclamation would act with prejudice. Also, I realize that I’m mixing and matching racial prejudice and religious prejudice, but to me, they’re all unacceptable.

How do we, as faithful Catholics, make it clear that this type of harassment and abuse is simply unacceptable? Prayer, yes, but we have been witnesses for the unborn outside Planned Parenthood facilities. How can we be witnesses against this type of behavior? What actions can we take?

If you were trying to avoid partison bickering, maybe you shouldn’t have made such a one sided and misleading post? For one, most of these attacks you keep hearing about are being proved false. Including specifically your one about setting the girl on fire. Which by the way occurred in November, not “within the last two weeks”. washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/12/21/a-muslim-student-in-michigan-claimed-a-man-threatened-to-set-her-on-fire-police-say-its-a-hoax/?tid=a_inl-amp&utm_term=.65ab5349a130

 

[lynnvinc]

If you were trying to avoid partison bickering, maybe you shouldn’t have made such a one sided and misleading post? For one, most of these attacks you keep hearing about are being proved false. Including specifically your one about setting the girl on fire. Which by the way occurred in November, not “within the last two weeks”. washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/12/21/a-muslim-student-in-michigan-claimed-a-man-threatened-to-set-her-on-fire-police-say-its-a-hoax/?tid=a_inl-amp&utm_term=.65ab5349a130

The OP was Nov 22, so the poster was not wrong about when the incident occurred. Also he/she would not have been aware at that time of the Dec 21st news story you linked that it was now considered a hoax.

That aside, it is also possible those stories are true. And even if they are not, there are plenty of real and true stories of abuse and harassment of minorities bec of their race, religion, etc – most of which never get reported. As your WP article says the Southern Poverty Law Center has documented 1,094 bias-related incidents in the month following the election. And this would just be the tiny tiny tip of the iceberg, bec most won’t even bother reporting it (as long as the psychological or physical injury is not severe), since, well, for one they might be accused of it being a hoax and being charged by a system that is riddled with institutional and structural racism.

So it still behooves good Christians to do the right thing:

• refrain from discrimination/abuse/harassment of minorities (and all);
• be kind and understanding to minorities, many of whom have experienced horrible insults, harassment, abuse (which carries a severe sting if it is due to their minority status - a sting majority persons cannot know);
• intervene in such abusive situations and side with the abused, if it isn’t dangerous to do so; call the police if this situation is perceived to be dangerous or about to escalate;
• err on the side of assuming there is such abuse, rather than denying it when people say there is such abuse (also note that because there is such abuse a minority might perceive a slight as race-related, when it may not be…which is no fault of theirs, but of the hostile society in which they live and experience many real race-related abuses);
• teach children from a young age on not to engage in such abuse.

I have to praise my mother, now deceased, for her response to what I and my sister did as small children. I think I was about 5 & my sister 3, so it may have been around 1952. I got my sister to yell out the “N” word to a middle-aged black woman, who then reported it to my mother. My mother came and whooped the daylights out of me and explained what a terrible thing I done and how I had hurt that woman.

Believe me the sting of the whooping (and mom was very tough, from Texas) was nothing compared to the sting of realizing I had grievously hurt someone.

That lesson has stayed with me my entire life.