S
Stephen_C
Guest
Well us Catholics have been known for supporting Social Justice. The riots as unfortunate as they are should not distract from what is happening in America today.
US Bishops on George Floyd Killing: ‘Racism is Not a Thing of the Past’
- Status
E
Ender
Guest
The bishops’ response had very little to do with the truth, which I’m sure is a lot more complicated than “This incident proves we are racists.” Was this an incidence of racism? Probably. Does that say anything about society at large? No, of course not, any more than does the incident last week of a black man beating up an old white person in a retirement home. Whatever those examples say about the perpetrators they say nothing whatever about the rest of us, and the bishops are mistaken in assuming they can divine the dark thoughts in the rest of society because of the actions of a few thugs.
R
Ridgerunner
Guest
At this point, I don’t think we know whether racism had anything to do with this cop’s conduct. Likely we’ll eventually know or have a good idea we know. But right now, we don’t.
Last edited:
E
Ender
Guest
And that is precisely why this incident should not have been presumed to be typical of white attitudes towards minorities: we don’t even know how that individual was motivated. To presume that we can know what went through his mind is foolish, but to ascribe bigoted intentions to him and then feel justified in suggesting that much of (white) society is similarly infected is appalling - especially coming from the clergy.
R
Ridgerunner
Guest
I agree entirely. Eventually, I think we’ll know what motivated the cop. But right now, we don’t.
N
niceatheist
Guest
And yet black suspects are statistically more likely to die at the hands of police. You are arguing to ignore the forest for the trees.
E
Ender
Guest
I’m pretty sure this isn’t true, and that so many people accept this claim is part of the problem. The last time I looked into this was several years ago, but the Bureau of Justice Statistics did a report on this subject and it turns out that the likelihood of dying at the hands of the police was within a percentage point whether you were white or black (Table 7).
That perception you cite, however, is part of the problem, and my objection to the bishops’ involvement stems from the fact that they have reinforced a stereotype that seems to have very little relation to the truth.
E
Ender
Guest
…a recent Harvard study concluded that 1,332 police shootings over the 2000-2015 time frame reveal that blacks are actually 20 percent less likely to be shot at by police than whites, despite the fact that blacks and whites are just as likely to be carrying a weapon.
This is further confirmed by a study conducted by John Jay College of Criminal Justice assistant professor Peter Moskos, who determined that when the homicide rate is adjusted, “whites are 1.7 times more likely than blacks [to] die at the hands of police. Adjusted for the racial disparity at which police are feloniously killed, whites are 1.3 times more likely than blacks to die at the hands of police.”
The Myth of the Racist Cop
The “narrative that policing is biased and violent and unfair” is resulting in “more dead young black men,” Mr. James Comey warned in an Oct. 16 address.
www.manhattan-institute.org
Four studies published this year [2016] showed that if there is a bias in police shootings, it works in favor of blacks and against whites. Officers’ use of lethal force following an arrest for a violent felony is more than twice the rate for white as for black arrestees, according to one study. Another study showed that officers were three times less likely to shoot unarmed black suspects than unarmed whites.
This is why the bishops’ involvement is so disappointing: they are reinforcing a belief that is both incorrect and very damaging.
S
silentwitness
Guest
Are you ok now Donkey?
I think the church should look to protect its own community, especially in times where the police are stretched. That is what community is supposed to be for.
If we still had 70% mass attendance the church could easily direct volunteers to vulnerable parishioner properties and they would outnumber by 20 to 1 the minority of protestors who wish to do harm.
Not only that but the Christian message of non violence and protecting the innocent would ring out and be re-enforced in the American conscience as an important light to be guided by.
This would be a great example of Christians coming to each other’s aid in times of crisis and would de-escalate the problems virtually overnight.
Unfortunately Christianity has surrendered that role and we are weaker for that and getting weaker by the year.
When this is all over i would pray that the church dis-entangles Leftism from social justice and concentrates on building community, letting each other know we are there for one another. This could simply be about fixing a fence, cleaning a garage or sitting with parishioners who are being harassed.
I would argue for the throwing out of identity politics and victim politics and political correctness and get back to a Christ First focus in a Christian context. One philosophy is adversarial, based on political control and the forced acceptance of a narrow victim identity history. The other is based on spiritual awareness, voluntary community and a shared salvation history involving brotherhood in the Christ.
For me the Christian approach is infinitely better and yet it has acquiesced to an inferior ideology which leads us to nowhere but conflict.
I will not reply to any activists posting in bad faith.
Last edited:
D
DENNYINMI
Guest
An independent autopsy revealed homicide due to asphyxiation. NO surprise, the lack of blood supply to the brain would shut down organs, and depending on any underlying conditions of those organs the time of death would be sooner in his case than later.
E
EndTimes
Guest
They have! … Maybe some ‘outlets’ forget to say that?
US bishops condemn killing of George Floyd,
Deplore Violence and Destruction
1. US bishops deplored the violence as “self-destructive and self-defeating”, adding, “nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost”.2. “Burning and looting communities, ruining the livelihoods of our neighbors, does not advance the cause of racial equality and human dignity.
US BISHOPS CONDEMN VIOLENCE & DESTRUCTION
D
Donkey
Guest
Always, I Trust in Jesus.
I went to the website of St. John the Episcopal church in D.C. and almost sent a message to the Reverend there. She publicly complained this morning that President Trump walked to St. John without an invitation or notice. I wanted to say to her that I felt sorry for her and the people she ‘herds’ as she acts like she owns her building. What kind of church/parish is it that requires an ‘invitation’ exclusively from her?
It seems that church leaders of all Christian denominations have fallen prey to and/or submission to PC police. Its been that way for too long. We need to get back to Christ First. Yes
The threat of crime, violence and infection overshadow the freedom we once were afforded…unlocked Churches 24 hours a day, confessional trust and now receiving Holy Communion at Mass. The erosion is concerning.
Conflict inside and outside is part and parcel. People are still entering the Church. Growth is a sign of life although this past Easter many were held off. Seems to me that consolations for them should have been made. People have entered the Church in more dire situations than pandemics. Conflict isn’t the only result…stagnation of all kinds.
J
josie_L
Guest
I know this was meant with good intent, but the state of the Church in the West is not exactly flourishing, so I’m not sure what our good shepherds are doing that is “for our best”??
I mean to say there is some wiggle room for criticism here.
I mean to say there is some wiggle room for criticism here.
Last edited:
D
Donkey
Guest
Archbishop Wilton Gregory: “I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles” - PoPville
Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory via Archdiocese of Washington Thanks to Kip for sending Archbishop Wilton Gregory. "Here is a statement from Washington Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory regarding the planned visit today from the president at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine: I find it baffling and...
www.popville.com
I don’t know about any other Catholic but it seems to me that this wave of people/violence we are seeing would probably rather chew and spit religion out. I believe President Trump sees this so executive order on Freedom of Religion and visit to The Shrine with his Catholic wife are timely.
Where was the outrage when Catholic Nancy Pelosi…avid supporter of abortion…visited The Shrine?
Please excuse me while I go and clean my eye glasses and pray alone.
Last edited:
P
pnewton
Guest
You do not think speaking against racism and injustice is in our best interest. Sorry, but I am still Catholic and can’t buy that.
P
PetraG
Guest
Please clarify, if you would:
Are you defending what was recorded on that video as being appropriate police procedure that unfortunately coincided with the suspect suffering from a deadly cardiac event that the officer could not have foreseen?
It seems to me a matter of time before treatment like that kills somebody. It uses force beyond what is necessary and it isn’t an example of well-executed public safety. It invites enmity between the police and the public, which is exactly what a free society cannot afford to have.
Decrying the inappropriate treatment of citizens by the police, especially if that treatment might be compounded by unjust prejudice, is not in any way in a competition with decrying violence as a method of protest.
So–why would you not want to listen to a bishop encouraging Americans to seek out encounters with people of different backgrounds with a goal of greater understanding and unity? What is the down side to that? Is that not in service of one of the four marks of the true Church: to be catholic?
Last edited:
P
PetraG
Guest
It is kind of ironic, actually, that he wrote this:
Presidential Executive Order Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty
Issued on: May 4, 2017“…All executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall, to the greatest extent practicable and to the extent permitted by law, respect and protect the freedom of persons and organizations to engage in religious and political speech…”
and then treated the protesters outside the White House in the way that he did so that he could go get his picture taken outside a church. When was the last time he visited that particular church for a service? (Does he even go to church? That church is not one that he regularly attends, at any rate. What’s with that?)
I don’t think he’s following his own order, frankly.
Last edited:
D
Donkey
Guest
I’m not going to measure President Trump’s action of going to The Shrine in a negative way. I am thankful that he and Melanie went and I assumethat he and Melanie went in good faith. The First Lady doesn’t strike me as one to make such an effort in selfishness or vanity.
Last edited:
J
josie_L
Guest
I never said that, I’m simply taking issue with the generic statement you made about them knowing better and doing what’s best for us, i.e., they are not beyond criticism.
And I’m still Catholic last I checked.
And I’m still Catholic last I checked.
Last edited:
D
Donkey
Guest
That is way to hard too measure without taking a poll…seems like a rather unfair statement at this point.
Last edited:
- Status