The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines racism as "unjust discrimination on the basis of a person's race." In a section entitled, "Equality and Differences among Men [and Women]," it says the following:
"The equality of men [and women] rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it:
'Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God's design...'
"There exist also sinful inequalities that affect millions of men and women. These are in open contradiction to the Gospel:
'Their equal dignity as persons demands that we strive for fairer and more humane conditions. Excessive economic and social disparity between individuals and peoples of the one human race is a source of scandal and militates against social justice, equality, human dignity, as well as social and international peace.'"
For more information, see Part 3 Chapter 2 of the Catechism, which you can read online at www.usccb.org/catechism/text/.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
