Ironic Names

Did you think about “chauvinism” when hearing about the murder of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin? One definition is “an irrational belief in the superiority or dominance of one’s own group or people.” We used that word for decades about men. Now we think of two men – one charged with murder, one who dishonored churches.

Did you think how odd it is that the last names of both persons in Central Park are “Cooper”? You must read Bryan Massingale’s “The assumption of white privilege and what we can do about it.” This black gay priest-professor finds the key to the racist events of the past few weeks in Amy Cooper. The liturgist in me wants to make his list of her assumptions into a litany read by two choirs. You must read them. You must pray them.

Massingale says “I am not a mind reader. I have no access to Amy Cooper’s inner thoughts. But I know, and we all know, that without these assumptions, her words and actions — her lies — make no sense.”

“Who taught us?” Massingale asks as he examines the pervasiveness of these assumptions.

 “At some early age, you realized that no matter how bad things got for you, at least you would never be black. And it dawned on you, though you rarely consciously say it, that you would never want to be black… And if you're really honest, something else dawned somewhere in your mind. You realized that, if you wanted, by being white you could make things hard — much harder — for others. Especially black folks.”

Without naming it, Massingale calls us to the sacrament of penance.  An examination of conscience to recognize “an unseen yet very real apparatus of collective thoughts, fears, beliefs, practices and history.” Sit with that for a long time, Massingale suggests, until it really sinks in. Until tears, rage, guilt, shame, embarrassment take over. Then confess.

Our penance: repeat over and over:

“The only reason for racism’s persistence is that white people continue to benefit from it.”

I taught that for years about slavery and its consequences.

Our firm purpose of amendment: learn history from “the perspective of people of color,” and get your church community to present it. Find out “how anti-racism is part of your church leaders’ formation for ministry.” Confront racist family and friends.

Most of all, “be ‘unconditionally pro-life.’” Massingale is as far from the US bishops as he could be.

“You cannot vote for or support a president who is blatantly racist, mocks people of color, separates Latino families and consigns brown children into concentration camps, and still call yourself ‘pro-life.’ We need to face, finally and at long last, the uncomfortable yet real overlap between the so-called ‘pro-life’ movement and the advocates of racial intolerance.”

I know we want to be non-partisan, but I want to highlight what Massingale says pro-life really means. I say, no more chauvinist exercise of power, on any level. No unchallenged Cooper assumptions. Black Lives Matter.  

“Finally, pray,” Massingale concludes. The prayerful reflections I find most meaningful this week are by a Loretto volunteer and an American bishop. Adele Maura McKiernan writes about Massingale’s article and shares both her own poem and her resolutions. El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz writes about moments of risk and self-sacrifice, especially by the young, that he found “profoundly Eucharistic.”

The political reflections that I find meaningful this week are by some familiar names. Of course, Joan Chittister does it all in single column. Jamie Manson explains why we have to say “Black Lives Matter.” Heidi Schlumpf again makes me happy that a person with such sensitivity is making decisions at NCR.

I was really looking for activists to join in future protests. In Sarah Salvadore’s article I found the Franciscan Action Network, the justice team of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Pax Christi International, the DC Catholic Coalition, and of course, Network, all among the protesters at a Knights of Columbus supported shrine to John Paul II.  DC Archbishop Wilton Gregory called it “baffling and reprehensible” that this Catholic facility was “misused and manipulated.” John Paul II “certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, scatter or intimidate them [protesters] for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace.”

Every organization that has ever sent me an email is deploring white racism and listing actions to take. Most notably, WOC recommits our organization to anti-racism. CTA has many suggestions and resources.

Will this be another turning point in the racist history of our country? Will we confront our own assumptions, confess our sins, act politically, and pray for justice as we never have before? Why? Because Black Lives Matter.