Saint Xavier Catholic Church in NYC - "Do you affirm that white privilege is unfair"--"Woke" Catholic Church

[billsherman]

My question is this: Since Catholic clergy are asking for prayers affirming that white privilege is unfair, why don’t they do something about electing only white Popes?

This is an interesting idea, but it is tough to answer.

The concept of the white race is largely confined to the UK and former UK colonies. There has been some seepage into other countries, but the white race is not a universal concept. For example, I seriously doubt Pope Francis identifies as white (my guess - and this is a guess - is that he would say he is ethnically Italian).

I know virtually nothing about race in Italy, but I best I can tell Italian racial demographics are based less on skin color and more on ethnicity. I would be very interested to learn more.

It’s reasonably possible that there has never been a white pope as Americans define whiteness. Historians have done a spectacular job showing that the concept of the white race originated with the British in the seventeenth century - largely as a method to differentiate themselves from the Irish they were busy colonizing and slaughtering.

The concept of the social construction of whiteness is far to nuanced and difficult to get into in a forum post - but you can check out Theodore Allen’s “The Invention of the White Race” for a definitive look.

 

[Feanor2]

blackforest:

In the midst of all of the self-righteous tsk-tsking in this thread, I’m going to tip my hat to this priest for having the courage and integrity to uphold Church teaching.

It’s Church teaching that all whites in this country are privileged? Can you cite a magisterial teaching to that effect?

White privilege isn’t so much a direct economic advantage- though that is one possible result of it.

White privilege is just the fact that white people don’t really think about being white. Black people think about being black daily or nearly so. White privilege is that I can put on a hoodie and go for a run in my neighborhood without the thought of how I look or how I will be perceived where a black man may be concerned that they may be perceived as scary or “up to no good”.

It’s an invisible position of power.

 

[ironbest]

Talking about “white privilege” is plain and simple an attack on white people. There is no condemnation of racism by using racist jargon. The priest is supporting a racist position. I am also a former member of the NAACP, and I am appalled at this type of language. A priest should know better. It tarnishes us all.

 

[Dr_Meinheimer]

I see World News as attempting to do that much more in how they portray progressives and conservatives, much moreso than people trying to depict minorities a certain way. I think you are looking too hard for trouble.

 

[Motherwit]

I see World News as attempting to do that much more in how they portray progressives and conservatives, much moreso than people trying to depict minorities a certain way. I think you are looking too hard for trouble.

There is a palpable denial that racism actually exists and that can be detected especially by us of a certain age group and it has nothing to do with the progressive/conservative dichotomy. When we recognize it having been part of it, it actually aggrieves the soul. I clearly remember as a child playing a childrens game that was called “Ching chong chinaman” so much so that I still remember the song word for word 50 plus years on. There was nursery rhyme call “Ten little n-ggers” that we thought nothing of, but involved systematically eliminating them one at a time. I can remember my mother being dismissive when there was a drive to get these sorts of things out of childrens culture. The word political correctness hadn’t been invented yet but that was the gist of that generations objections to trying to change these endemic cultural ditties.

That twofold strategy of denying that racism is significant in our society and then spotlighting random crime committed by black people, stands out to me as something hypocritical.

 

[Motherwit]

David Duke loves Trump with a passion which demolishes your claim in one foul swoop.

 

[Motherwit]

That racists are all progressives in your experience.

 

[Motherwit]

It means that your experience is meaningless to the argument and devoid of reality.

 

[Motherwit]

I gave examples of what are now universally accepted racist cultural childrens ditties and games and a universally accepted racist to demonstrate a point. Your opinion gave nothing but your opinion which was devoid of reality.

 

[Annie]

OTOH, Richard Spencer plans to vote for Biden.

 

[Motherwit]

OTOH, Richard Spencer plans to vote for Biden.

I wasn’t claiming that racism was a left or right thing. I was rebuffing (name removed by moderator)s claim that racism is a progressive/left thing. Racism is an endemic thing.

 

[twf]

Said every white man in 1950 America. Of course, I’ve been told here on CAF that blacks were better off back in the 1950s…pre-civil rights…
Lynchings of real life black men in America was a blink of an eye ago…living memory…very recent in the scheme of things. Yes, real incredible progress has been made, but its absolutely insane to suggest that it all just “went away” like magic in such a very short period of time…people don’t work that way.

 

[YHWH_Christ]

Did anybody else see this?

Although I am not Catholic, seeing this makes me worry. I am praying for your church, I hope this doesn’t continue to happen and that the bishop of that diocese gives the appropriate discipline.

 

[redbetta]

Just watched this. I hope to God people are writing to the bishop of that diocese about this.

Wokeness has no place in the Church. Or anywhere else besides the trash.

 

[pnewton]

Might I ask what he said that one would say “no” to? Most of that is straight from Church teaching.
Racism still profoundly affects our culture, and it has no place in the Christian heart. This evil causes great harm to its victims, and it corrupts the souls of those who harbor racist or prejudicial thoughts.

Right?

 

[pnewton]

I read about who this Michael Knowles is and he has no authority in the Church, but is a political commentator and blogger. This sort of cross-over from politics to theology is dicey when the commentator who is trying to be theological is politically aligned off to the right, or the left. This priest, on the other hand, is trained in theology and speaking of morals. He is not trying to drift from his area of competency.

 

[redbetta]

The whole notion that this is a white supremacist country is complete bunk and asking parishioners to assent to what is essentially a political talking point meant to sow division has no place in Church. He could have just said racism is bad and left it at that.

And, the way he phrased it, in a format very similar to how the priest goes about the renewal of baptismal vows, creates this really unsettling fusion of a political ideology and religion. It really confirms what many already suspect that secular social justice has essentially become a religion in which privilege is the original sin.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Already a thread on this

Saint Xavier Catholic Church in NYC - "Do you affirm that white privilege is unfair"--"Woke" Catholic Church Catholic News

I don’t even know what to say about this dialogue at Sunday Mass.

I understand Michael Knowles is a Catholic political commentator, so that means his opinion is about as important as every other Catholic person’s posting on this forum. As you can see by this thread and the original one, we have a variety of views. In any event, the fact that a Jesuit church in NYC is saying a social justice prayer at announcement time is hardly new and hardly the end of the world. Don’t worry about us (and do consider joining us, OP! )

 

[blackforest]

Just watched this. I hope to God people are writing to the bishop of that diocese about this.

I would only be writing a Bishop and getting a priest in trouble for direct and deliberate violations of Church teaching. Can you name at least one that is present in this video?

 

[gam197]

In any event, the fact that a Jesuit church in NYC is saying a social justice prayer at announcement time is hardly new and hardly the end of the world. Don’t worry about us (and do consider joining us, OP! )

I have no idea why I am called to respond. I have no problem with the priest doing a homily about taking care of the poor, respect. The priest goes off here and gets too political - signs on the altar and all the rhetoric.

Do you normally see signs on the altar? I don’t. So you believe this is at the end of the mass when the priest normally stands off to the side and near the front and announces raffle tickets in the back of the Church for sale. it could be.