What is the Catholic definition of racism?

[AaronsStaff]

I’m looking for resources as to what constitutes racism in the eyes of the Church.
I’ve been doing some research on the topic, and the definitions I am seeing seem to differ from the common conception of the term.

I’ve been under the impression that broadly speaking racism is treating someone immorally on the basis of their race. I’ve taken this to mean that racism could be displayed in the form of unjust racial discrimination, demeaning racial insults, and acts of violence motivated by racial hatred, among other things.

But when I did some research on the way the Church uses the word, it seems to be used in a far stricter, and narrower sense focusing on racial oppression by a dominant group, or specifically ideas associated with racial supremacism, now obviously these things are racist, but what I find confusing is that it doesn’t seem to include far more common phenomena like simple racial hatred, racial insults, etc.

I find it hard to consider that an African American being called the N word is not racist, but from what I’ve seen and interpreted of the Church’s use of the term it doesn’t seem like it would be classified as truly racist (immoral yes, but not racist strictly speaking).

Much of the information I’ve been looking at comes from this link:
catholicsocialteaching.org.uk/themes/human-dignity/explanation/

So ultimately my questions are:

What is the Catholic definition of racism (if there truly is one definitive one)?
If there such a definition and it is like what I described above, are we required to see the concept in that strict and narrow sense?

 

[SuperLuigi]

There may not be one.

I think what you need to look at is being called to (dare I say this word on here…) charity.

If you try to be charitable, its hard to go wrong, really.

As far as the n-word goes, it isn’t nice,:tsktsk: but those who whine about it lose credibility when they listen to music that says it, TV shows that use it and when they, well, use it themselves.

 

[phil_at_dayboro]

I wouldn’t think the catholic faith would specifically have a definition of racism ,

 

[johnnyt3000]

We have to use our Catholic consciences. Also what Luigi said above, you can’t go wrong with Charity.

 

[Crown_of_Stars]

As far as the n-word goes, it isn’t nice,:tsktsk: but those who whine about it lose credibility when they listen to music that says it, TV shows that use it and when they, well, use it themselves.

I think there is real racism, and then there is imagined racism. I’m Italian, and I know I would be “offended” (I’m kind of sick of that word, though, to be honest, but it’s the only word I can use) if there were remarks against my heritage. As would any nationality. Also, I think we hear the word “racist” far too often. At least we’re well beyond the days of slaves, African Americans riding on the back of the bus, etc. That was wrong, and we now realize that and have for a long time now. It’s time to be thankful for that and let that be the end of it.
And, just as a thought, I really don’t see anything wrong with Hispanics coming to live in our country either. We don’t know why they may have left Mexico. I get a little sick of hearing them referred to as “illegal aliens,” They are not aliens, they are people, and they are very family-oriented, there are many at my church, and they are very nice (and very pretty) people.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

Also, I think we hear the word “racist” far too often. At least we’re well beyond the days of slaves, African Americans riding on the back of the bus, etc. That was wrong, and we now realize that and have for a long time now. It’s time to be thankful for that and let that be the end of it.

I think some of what is being noticed is linguistic drift. “racism” had before referred to a systematic denial of rights and oppression of people based on their racial classification. In many countries this was part of the legal system and the culture, including the united states. In modern times it seems to refer to conscious and sometimes unconscious biases the aggregate of which may put some group of people at a disadvantage. I’d much prefer of a term like “racial bias” were used to refer to these. But it’s hard to get people to conform to changes in language and usage.

 

[whitekrusader14]

The word racism/racist was first coined by communist mass murderer Leon Trotsky and was originally defined as someone who takes pride in ones racial, cultural or familial associations. It was used in a derogatory sense.
Since the 1960’s it has been redefined as someone who wants to oppress or enslave others of another race. The modern use of the word racist however no refers to White people who oppose any sort of liberal/Marxist policy such as third world immigration, affirmative action, bloated welfare systems, points out any racial differences and the disproportionate amount of crime committed by non-Whites or in general uses reason and logic to disprove leftist ideas are insane and destructive. It is a word that is applied exclusively towards White people.
There is nothing about race or racism in the Catechism of the Catholic Church but there is a great deal about race in the bible. primarily in the Old Testament laws about marriage outside of the tribe. Ezra 9 is an example of OT laws in action regarding this.