Suresh Abboodass
A clarion call to challenge racism wherever it exists and the Church to be the forefront of racial justice was made by several speakers at a seminar held at St. George`s Metropolitan Cathedral Southwark London on Saturday 28th October.
It was stressed that tackling racism and promoting racial and cultural inclusion could be undertaken in churches, parishes and schools by allotting various roles to people of different ethnic background and colour. The one-day seminar was organised by the Archdiocese of Southwark under the stewardship of Most Rev. John Wilson, the Archbishop of Southwark.
The seminar, the first of its kind to be held in the Archdiocese, and titled “Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion in our parishes, schools, and communities”, was attended by more than a hundred people from various backgrounds, with more participating through Zoom.
The seminar was conducted by the Commission for Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion-formed by Archbishop Wilson after the killing of George Floyd by policemen in the US in 2020.
Canon Victor Darlington, Episcopal Vicar for Education and Chairman of the Commission for Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion, made a clarion call to “challenge racism wherever it exists.” “It (racism) is the big elephant in the room and our Archbishop has called us to drive this elephant out,” he said.
“This is a time for integration, show of oneness and diversity in our community. Soon after the killing of George Floyd, this Commission was formed. The killing sparked worldwide protests. It also brought the `oneness’ in fellow human beings. People of all races called out against this violent and racist attack.”
In his welcome address, Archbishop Wilson urged participants “to overcome the sin of racism” and “to raise our voices against racism.” He also called on them “to stand in solidarity with the community to support a just society with respect and dignity for all.”
“There should be no place for racism in our society”, the Archbishop said. “After the tragic killing of George Floyd I felt compelled to reflect, listen and act. Racism continues to harm our society. The Church should be the forefront of racial justice.”
Speaking on the efforts to root out racism in his parish, Fr. Richard Nesbitt-a white priest- revealed that he had “deep experience of racism ” in his parish of Our Lady of Fatima Church in White City London and he had to strain every nerve to root out racism. Following the pulling down of the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol, he initiated a conversation in his parish, which he thought would lead his parishioners to share their experiences of racism. But to his dismay this did not happen, he said.
During the church service, “white parishioners were not accepting the `gesture of peace` with black people”, he said. “This affected me and I spoke about this in my homily. I was thinking it was a diverse, multicultural parish, but this was not the case. No one talked about rooting out racism from our parish. Only when I asked people to write anonymously in a book, then I came to know how serious it was,” he said. “This has been published in a report called, “Rooting out racism in our parish”, he stated.
Elizabeth Uwalaka from the same parish called to “change òthering` to brothering” and said that “institutional racism is real” and quoted an example from her own professional life that she was a victim of racism in the institution she worked.
Kamara Katana Atkinson felt that diversity reflected in different races and backgrounds has not been fully embraced in the Catholic church and that inclusion in church must be enforced nationwide.
Speaking on the topic of “Journeying with young people and families: opportunities, challenges and hopes”, Susan Elderfield, Advisor for School and College Chaplaincy, urged that Catholics must stand together along with those who are marginalised and victimised because of racism. Drawing out personal experiences from young persons like Helen and Tirini, she stressed the need for providing opportunities to all people irrespective of their colour of their skin or ethnic background.
Nana Churcher, author and award- winning Talk Show host from Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. George`s Catholic Church, Enfield, spoke on the significance of “change in this chaotic world”. “From little seeds grow mighty trees, so it is the same when we commit ourselves to change,” she said.
There was a lot of feedback from group discussions at the end of the seminar. Prominent among them was a consensus to encourage inclusion and representation of all people in church activities, irrespective of age, gender, race and colour.
it was also felt that more effort must be taken to bringing young people to church by giving them opportunities to serve as Eucharistic Ministers and Readers. Above all, there was a whole hearted consensus to be united as Catholics as a way of moving forward in embracing diversity and putting an end to racism in the Church.
Paul Cavadino and Jude Onye were the Masters of Ceremony. Deacon Paul Chigbo Ugwuoke from St. Wilfrid`s, Kennington, Ongelo Abraham from Our Lady of Sorrows, Lewisham, Valentine and Patricia spoke on behalf of different groups.
Picture: Canon Victor Darlington, Chairman of the Commission for Racial Diversity