Racial justice: ‘What can we do better together that we can’t do alone?’

By Barb Umberger The Catholic Spirit

Anne Cullen Miller, president of the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota, and Tim Marx, former president and CEO of Catholic Charities Twin Cities, often talked about their organizations’ missions and Catholic social teachings, including that all people are made in God’s image and possess an equal, inalienable worth.

After George Floyd was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, Cullen Miller said she and Marx discussed how to respond. They decided to put Catholic social teaching “to work and see if other leaders of Catholic institutions in our community might find that they resonate with these ideas.”

She and Marx started calling some of their partners, and a coalition formed in the summer of 2020. The Catholic Racial Justice Coalition now includes eight of the largest Catholic organizations in the Twin Cities metro area — the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota; Catholic Charities Twin Cities; the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis; the GHR Foundation; the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province; and the universities of St. Catherine, St. Mary and St. Thomas.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda said “there’s clearly a need in our community for this important work and I have been happy to connect our local leaders with the excellent resources that are available through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.”

The coalition aims to use members’ “institutional power to work in solidarity” with those most affected by racial injustice, convene the broader community through the organizations’ relationships, act as a resource for people and communities to connect with

‘MARY SPEAKS’ … VOLUMES MINISTRY GATHERING

Those involved in racial justice ministry or who would like to learn how to engage in this work are invited to a Catholic racial justice ministry gathering 8:30-11 a.m. March 18 at the Iversen Center for Faith at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

It is free but registration is requested online at tinyurl com/3993vd4p or by email at crjctwincities@gmail com education and action, and support local efforts that align with the coalition’s values.

“The issue is important enough for us to ask that question of ‘how can we come together to do something bigger than ourselves?’” said Michael RiosKeating, social justice education manager at Catholic Charities. “What can we do better together that we can’t do alone?”

Good work in racial justice is happening in the community and institutions, Rios-Keating said, “but what are some of those things that we could move the needle on?” Referencing the eight Catholic organizations, he said, “we have resources, we have the capacity, we have ideas, and we have connections to the community that we can capitalize on together.”

Michael Goar, who succeeded Marx as president and CEO of Catholic Charities Twin Cities, said his organization recognizes “the profound impacts of racial injustice and works actively — in both our direct services and our advocacy — to advance our vision of a community where race is no longer a predictor of outcomes.” He added, “Rooted in Catholic social teaching, we know that we are all one human family.”

Donations to the Catholic Racial Justice Fund, which supports coalition programs and others that share its mission, can be made at ccf-mn.org/crjc.