What does it take to live as an adult Catholic in our changing and challenging world? Every Day Catholic uses an engaging and practical approach to help readers confidently apply Christian values to their everyday decisions. An online small group process is an added bonus.

We were walking down the street when some children approached us to ask a question. Pretty normal, huh? This is not unusual unless you know the context: We were visiting Mali in West Africa and were the only white people in the village.

People in ethnic and racial minorities frequently have this experience when they venture out of our largely segregated neighborhoods. So what does being in a majority or minority have to do with one's faith? Generally it has to do with being privileged or oppressed. Jesus was always on the side of the underdog or, to be more scriptural, the undersheep: “If a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?” (Matthew 18:12). Or, as Mary says in her Magnificat, “[God] has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty” (Luke 1:52-53).

Discrimination is immoral because it is grounded in inequities. “Racism is a sin: a sin that divides the human family, blots out the image of God among specific members of that family, and violates the fundamental human dignity of those called to be children of the same Father” (Brothers and Sisters to Us).

Although being part of an oppressed minority is often based on race or ethnicity, it also applies to other realities such as class, education or disability. The common denominator is that the majority has privilege and power while the minority is disadvantaged from the start. This usually means inferior schools, rougher neighborhoods, health problems and families caught in the cycle of poverty. “[A]ny kind of social or cultural discrimination in basic 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” (The Church in the Modern World, #29).

Those in the dominant culture may agree that these social problems are unfortunate and may even volunteer to help in their spare time, but it probably doesn't impact their everyday lives. Most of us live in neighborhoods where people look and act like us. That's why we moved there. Our friendship circles feel comfortable. Is there anything wrong with that? Not really, but it can be a narrow experience of life. Living with only like-minded people can stunt our vision of the world and keep us from investing in the lives of those who don't look like us.

Most Catholics are not overtly racist. But, just as there are degrees of skin color, there are degrees of accepting those of a different race or socioeconomic background. If you are part of the majority culture, it's often hard to recognize subtle prejudice like locking your car doors when driving through “bad” neighborhoods or preferring merchants of your own race.

Christianity calls us to more than just not being racist or prejudiced; we must take positive steps to create an environment in which all people are valued and respected. You don't have to sell your home and move to a low-income neighborhood to prove you're broad-minded. There are other proactive ways to build bridges to minority populations:

■ What's on your walls, stovetop or in your CD player? Bring other cultures into your home by displaying art that depicts other races and cultures. Experiment with listening to music from different ethnicities so that your family develops an ear for different languages and rhythms. Serve greens, empa—adas or fry bread.

■ When have you had a person of a different culture to dinner? If you don't know anyone well enough to invite to dinner, then that's the first step. Make it a goal to get to know at least one person from a different cultural group. We were impressed to learn that one local Promise Keepers group has a policy to hold only integrated meetings. If the group convenes and is all of one color, the members quickly recruit others or disband until another date.

■ Have all your friends gone to college? People tend to connect with others who have similar educational backgrounds. This is natural since it's more likely we'll have similar interests. Sometimes, however, we need to broaden ourselves by seeking the wisdom of those who work with their hands, care for young children and fix our cars. As valuable as education can be as a tool for equality, don't let education prejudice blind you to the quality of another person. Try engaging your mechanic in more than just car talk or speak for a moment with the maid who cleans your hotel room.

■ Have you ever been in the minority—racial, ethnic, educational, income, gender, etc.? Why is it good to spend time with people who are different from us? Can't we be just as moral sitting in our comfortable cocoons of commonality? After all, we're not hurting anybody. But how do we know? Sometimes it's valuable to put oneself in the shoes of a person in the minority to see how it feels to be on the outside, the powerless side, the underdog side. You can't change the color of your skin or your cultural heritage, but you can get a glimpse of what life looks like from another perspective. Would you stick with a black-and-white TV once you discovered color? It makes the world so much more interesting and true to life. Try it.

Don't be colorblind, but, rather, look at all the colors in God's dazzling rainbow. It can make us more understanding and help us see our fellow men and women as God sees us—children made in the image of God. As Fr. Brian Massingale says, “The Kingdom of God includes people of all backgrounds and colors, and most of them are not white. Most will be black or brown.”

Permission to Publish received for this article, “Discrimination—Not Just a Black-and-White Issue,” by Jim and Susan Vogt, from Rev. Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, 4-21-2008.

Jim and Susan Vogt have four adult children and live in Covington, Kentucky. Jim directs the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative. Susan speaks and writes on marriage, parenting and spirituality. Learn more at susanvogt.net.

There's a moment when attorney Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) stands in an empty courtroom after failing to win the acquittal of a falsely accused black defendant. A courtroom empty, that is, except for the black observers, who have been relegated to the balcony, and Finch's young daughter, Scout (Mary Badham), who has joined them there. As Atticus leaves, those in the balcony stand out of respect, and one man admonishes Scout, “Stand up. Your father's passing.”

The respect these people accord Atticus Finch is a reflection of the respect he has shown them by accepting the task of defending the accused.

This story is Scout's memories of the life lessons her father taught her—by his words and by the way he treated others. This is manifest from the first scene, when Atticus protects the dignity of a poor white man, through the core action of the film when he stands up to the evils of deadly racism, to the final scene in which he shelters the dignity of a mocked recluse. Finch consistently respects the inherent humanity of everyone he deals with. “You never know someone,” Atticus tells Scout, “until you step inside their skin and walk around a little.”

This 1962 film of Harper Lee's award-winning novel portrays racism and prejudice as we knew them in the Deep South a generation or more ago. While today's racism and its expressions look different, discrimination and prejudice persist. The antidote, it says, is both universal and timeless: respect for the dignity of others as human beings and children of God.

Some might think it odd to find a white man involved in fighting racism. Others may see it as prophetic. For Michael Rabbitt, a member of the predominantly white community of St. Mary of the Woods Parish in Chicago, his involvement in this effort on the parish, community and diocesan levels is a natural and vital expression of his faith.

In a recent interview with Every Day Catholic, Michael explained, “Being passionate about this subject is taking the ‘road less traveled,’ particularly for me as a white person. Too many people are resistant to acknowledging racism—sometimes even afraid of using the word—and refuse to believe that discrimination is still a problem in America. Racism is too often defined as individual acts of prejudice instead of something that is really much more complex and systemic. Many whites don’t consider the critical issues of white privilege and institutional racism. We must continue working hard to make sure that racism is eliminated.”

What drew Michael—husband, father of two and insurance company IT director—to promoting racial justice and ethnic sensitivity? His parents and teachers taught him “the importance of human dignity and treating everyone with respect.” He also cites growing up in a racially diverse neighborhood and attending a racially mixed Catholic elementary school as contributors to his convictions. Michael views his involvement in this cause as a legacy to his children. He hopes that they will grow up with open hearts and the desire to make a difference for good.

Michael refers to the U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter on racism that says, “Racism is a sin” (Brothers and Sisters to Us). He says, “Our response as Catholics must be to love each other unconditionally as Jesus taught us, whatever our racial, ethnic, social, religious or economic differences may be. It’s also important to understand that the work for change has to occur in our institutions, and our churches are a good place to start. The goal should be to transform our churches, communities and society into anti-racist, multicultural institutions.”

Cardinal George of Chicago issued his own pastoral letter on racism, Dwell in My Love, in 2001. He wrote: “Ethnic, cultural and racial diversities are gifts from God to the human race—.Others may be different from us in every aspect except one: each man, woman, or child we encounter is a child of God, a brother or sister in the Lord, whom we should welcome as our neighbor.”

Cardinal George’s initiative for addressing racial and systemic injustice within the Archdiocese of Chicago gave Michael an outlet for his concerns about racial injustice. His involvement includes Workshop on Racism and Ethnic Sensitivity, Catholics United for Racial Justice and chairing his parish’s Racial & Social Justice Ministry. He says, “It’s a constant learning process. I spend a lot of time reading on this subject, but just as importantly, I try to spend time with people of color, listening to the powerful and moving stories that they have to share.”

Scenario

When I served a suburban parish, the school principal asked for help. A lone, African-American first-grader was being shunned by her classmates. Elise was deeply hurt by this. These children had rejected her because she was different.

The intervention meeting was remarkable, for it was Elise who shared God's wisdom: “My daddy took me to buy a puppy. Each puppy looked different: brown, black, spotted and plain. But they were all still puppies! We're like that too. I'm a brown girl and you're sort of peach-colored, but inside we're the same.” It was a teaching moment for us all, but especially for those girls who remain close friends today.

A response

We each assume the attitudes we witness at home. For better or worse, we inherit our parents' values. Psychologists tell us that the behavior pattern is in place by the age of two. Therefore, we must live family lives grounded in accepting and valuing diversity from the start.

The choices parents make to either embrace those who are different or reject them imprint on their children for life. It's a conscious decision to integrate diversity of race, religion and financial status into our children's experiences. A parent's role is to guide young souls to see every difference in light of the gospel, which tells us to integrate and never segregate because of the great commandment of love.

The challenge to expose our children to diversity while also protecting them and supporting good moral development is difficult today. The media and our culture often stand in direct conflict with the teaching of our Church. Parents must be alert: “Put on the whole armor of God....” (Ephesians 6:11). We cannot let down our guard. It's essential that we know who our children spend time with and what messages they're hearing. Besides protecting our children from a discriminatory attitude, it's valuable to be proactive. This means seeking out those who are different and inviting them into our family circle. We must deliberately choose to live, work, educate and worship in communities that respect diversity. It's a pearl of great price that parents can give their children.

Elise and her girlfriends began a graced journey that day in first grade. Our little prophet wanted everyone to hear what she already knew without being told: Hearts and souls cannot be distinguished by race, culture, wealth or any other characteristic. We are invited to see everyone with God's eyes.

(for praying alone or with others)

Preparation: Place a sign that reads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” a pen, an open Bible and a lighted candle on a central prayer table.

OPENING SONG

Suggestions: “City of God” by Dan Schutte, “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” by Peter Scholtes or “One Bread, One Body” by John Foley, S.J.

OPENING PRAYER

“Jesus, free us from the sins of prejudice, discrimination and racism that have infected our hearts and our world. Grace us with your vision so that we may always see clearly the ways that others are denied privileges and basic human rights. Give us the courage to use our power to influence our families, schools, parishes and communities to respect all those who are different from us. Amen.”

SCRIPTURE

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me—.” (Psalm 51:10-12).

RITUAL

Response: “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”

“Think of a person you prefer to avoid—”

“Think of a situation of war or interpersonal conflict—”

“Think of situations of poverty or injustice—”

“Think of ways you are selfish or unwilling to bend—”

“What step can you take to remove prejudice, discrimination and racism from your own heart?”

Listen to a recording of “If Everyone Cared” by Nickelback.

“Please come to the prayer table to put your name on the sign as a pledge to take steps toward growing ‘a clean heart—a new and right spirit.’”

CLOSING PRAYER

“Come, Holy Spirit, and make a world of love and acceptance a reality. Fill us with a new spirit of courage, a new desire to make peace and a new love for all people. Amen.”

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