Dignity of Life: We fight racism knowing we are all equal in the eyes of God

By Deacon Paul Lavallee | Guest Columnist

This year during the annual diocesan Deacon Convocation in October Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana, discussed respect life and racism with all the deacons of our diocese.
Bishop Fabre, who is also the current chair of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, helped us to see that respect life and racism are closely intertwined. In his opening remarks, the bishop asked if we remembered the parable of the owner of a vineyard going out at different times of the day to hire workers for his vineyard; some at first light, some later in the morning, some at lunch, some at almost the end of the day. When it came time to pay them, the owner started with the workers hired last and gave them a full day’s wage. Those who were hired first thought they should receive more, and, when they received the same amount, they were incensed and grumbled against the landowner.
Then Bishop Fabre asked, “Do you remember what the workers hired in the morning complained about?” At this point I was caught off guard. I pondered on what those workers might have said and were feeling. Then someone raised their voice and said, “He is making us equal to them!” That statement in this parable was hidden from my memory but now it was brought forth magnificently in relation to racism: He is making us equal to them! And, I thought to myself, Jesus never gives us a parable that is not packed with meaning.
Is it not true that perhaps we all have biases? We all discriminate in some way? We all are at times unfair? Do we feel/say in our defense “They are not equal to us!”?
We must remember that the dignity of a person is not based on what they can or cannot do; what faculties they have or don’t have; on what culture they claim or do not claim; when they were birthed or if they have not yet been birthed; what religion they follow; or what color of skin they have. The dignity of a person comes from the fact that “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27).
Overcoming racism is part and parcel to respecting the dignity of all human life. We practice respecting life so that we might live it more fully throughout the year. Ponder again on the message included in the parable, “He is making us equal to them!” How can we be Christian and feel that others around us are not deserving of our love and respect, and how can we be Christian if we think that we are better in God’s eyes and they are less?
Satan has used the tool of racism and discrimination throughout human existence. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, racism is “an evil that is a violation of human dignity and a sin against justice.”
Bishop Fabre asked us to remember the various experiences of racism that particular groups in our nation’s history have experienced and are still experiencing in different ways: the Native American Experience, the African American Experience and the Hispanic American Experience (as many assume that most are undocumented).
Could it be the root of racism is an individual’s struggle to believe others are equal to themselves in the eyes of God? We might ask ourselves, “what is my stand against what is happening in our nation concerning race and where is my heart in all of this?” Am I willing to journey with those who are being marginalized and suppressed? When I think about the protests happening in our country do I feel something welling up within me that feels like a defense for my opinion? Will I let the Spirit move me to action to correct the injustices of racism?
In his closing remarks Bishop Fabre reminded us that most of those who are “on the streets protesting” are hurting. Their hearts have been broken. They have experienced the pain and sorrows of racism, and they still carry the wounds. Their spirits have been trampled. We are called to have compassion and to respect their dignity. We are called to journey with them, if not physically, then through our actions, our responses, our solidarity and our commitment to end the injustice of racism and discrimination.
Deacon Paul Lavallee was ordained a permanent deacon June 2000. He serves St. John the Evangelist Parish in Marble Falls.