Denver Catholic

3 DENVER CATHOLIC | FEBRUARY 23-MARCH 8, 2019 Around the Archdiocese TOGETHER WE ARE MORE THAN YOU REALIZE mtyrmovement mtyrmovement mtyrmovement mtyr.org/youtube Follow us on social. Watch the videos. Share them. mtyr.org/together TOGETHER Bishop Rodriguez: 'Racism requires a transformation of the heart' A ccompanied by leaders from dif- ferent religious institutions in Colorado, the auxiliary Bishop of Denver Jorge Rodriguez spoke on the eradication of racism at the Colorado State Capitol Feb. 5, during the inau- guration of the Faithful Tuesdays pro- gram, which seeks to add a deeper moral dimension to the public policy making in Colorado. The fi rst meeting focused on the abolition of racism and the sup- port for equity and a just economy. Participating entities included the Colorado Catholic Conference, the Col- orado Council of Churches, Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, Together Colo- rado and leaders from di• erent faiths. Bishop Rodriguez called the topic "a very timely subject," referring to the recent pastoral letter against racism released by the USCCB Open Wide Our Hearts – The Enduring CalltoLove,Ÿand said that this eradication was in part a duty of all religious leaders. "Racism is a sin that divides the human family and violates human dignity. As faith leaders we are called to be consistent voices calling for the eradication of racism in our commu- nities," Bishop Rodriguez said. "If we don't heed this call, we are destined for history to continue to repeat itself." The USCCB pastoral letterŸ states: "Racism arises when — either con- sciously or unconsciously — a person holds that his or her own race or ethnic- ity is superior, and thereforeŸjudgesŸper- sons of other races or ethnicities as inferior and unworthy of equal regard… [Racist acts] reveal a failure to acknowl- edge the human dignity of the persons o• ended, to recognize them as the neighbors Christ calls us to love." Bishop Rodriguez underlined that in order to respond appropriately to this problem, it is necessary to listen to those who have experienced it fi rst hand, allowing religious leaders to see its reality and promote justice. "We must create occasions to hear, with open hearts, the tragic stories that are deeply engraved on the lives of our brothers and sisters, if we are to be moved with empathy to promote justice," he said. "Racism is a moral problem that requires a moral remedy – a transformation of the human heart – that compels us to act." Jenny Kraska, Executive Director of the Colorado Catholic Conference (CCC), told the Denver Catholic that in the fi ght for the dignity of life from con- ception to natural death, the CCC also fi ghts for the rights of thoseŸin life who "fall through the cracks." "It's [about] promoting the dignity of every human person… A lot of the legis- lation that we're focused on looks at the lives of immigrants in our community, the lives of those who are most in need, homeless people," Kraska said. "I think sometimes people in those segments in society fall through the cracks,Ÿand it's up to us as a faith community to show legis- lators that every human life has dignity." The following Tuesday meetings will take place at the Colorado State Capital from noon to 1 p.m. and will address topics such as criminal justice, the death penalty and homelessness. BY VLADIMIR MAURICIO-PEREZ vladimir.mauricio-perez@archden.org Visit faithfultuesdays.org Read the full article at denvercatholic.org Bishop Rodriguez denounced racism at the Capitol Feb. 5. PHOTO BY VLADIMIR MAURICIO-PEREZ

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