This weekend, almost 1,700 people gathered at a conference center just outside of Washington, D.C. for the 18th annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, organized by the Ignatian Solidarity Network. The theme this year is simply one word: Bridges.
Delegates, mostly from Jesuit high schools and universities, were treated to keynote addresses and breakout workshops on a broad variety of issues centered on the theme of building bridges that connect people in solidarity. We heard from Sr. Helen Prejean on connecting with people on death row and from Fr. Alejandro Olayo, SJ on the walls on our border that stands in the way of bridge building. We heard the powerful witness of a young black man from St. Louis University High School who lives in Ferguson, and we heard about how one theology student at Boston College School of Theology & Ministry bridges her identity as a gay Catholic.
One of the most powerful keynotes at this conference came from La Salle University professor of ethics Maureen O’Connell. Maureen called on Catholics to address racism in our culture and in our Church. Since most of our readers couldn’t be there to hear the whole thing, we’d like to share a few salient quotes from the live-tweeting of her talk at #IFTJ15.
Maureen started out by recognizing the difficulties presented by racism and that it isn’t an easy issue to try and address:
The waters are deep and troubled. The temptation to stay on the shore is real, never mind the talk of bridges. @theoethicist #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
We’ve got to be intentional with how we go about building bridges and…adjust our sense of where we need to start. @theoethicist #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
https://twitter.com/margienuzz/status/663365331847516164
We cannot do our social justice work without talking about race. @theoethicist #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
Maureen named some of the people who have died as a result of racism in just the last couple of years:
.@theoethicist mentions Sandra Bland. #sayhername #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
She called out our own Ignatian family for failing to address racism among our own brothers and sisters:
In failing to stand in solidarity with these folks, racism is strangling the Ignatian Family too. @theoethicist #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
This is a call to humility, to repentance. Let's start listening to the voices that are often ignored. https://t.co/NcNieXslxF
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
"Why is it that most Catholics were not able to see the link between Charleston 9 and Laudato Si?" – .@theoethicist #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
"We CANNOT do our social justice work without talking about race." – Maureen O'Connell (@theoethicist) at #IFTJ15 pic.twitter.com/YekxdNO5YH
— Mike Rios-Keating (@mikerioskeating) November 8, 2015
"What happens to the earth and to people of color are the same thing" – M. Shawn Copeland #IFTJ15
— Andrew Hermann (@andrewhermz) November 8, 2015
https://twitter.com/kkacampbell/status/663368279155712000
Racism isn’t just out there, Ignatian family. The soul sickness is right here. It’s among us. Dare we name it? @theoethicist #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
Maureen O'Connell listing racial injustices on so many college campuses – in Greek life, classrooms, in social media, etc. #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
"A Church with closed doors betrays herself and her mission, and, instead of being a bridge, becomes a roadblock." @Pontifex #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
White U.S. Catholics are walled off from resurrection bc we haven't faced our complicity in the crucifixion of people of color #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
.@theoethicist #IFTJ15 pic.twitter.com/bmTd4eLXUC
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
https://twitter.com/kkacampbell/status/663370233101463552
1. Following the lead of Dorothy Day, draw close to the pain of racism. #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
2. Get some training on what racism is, where it comes from, and what we can do about it. #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
"A culture of racism is one where whites lose their humanity, empathy, & authenticity." Maureen O'Connell #IFTJ15
— SPP Campus Ministry (@prepministry) November 8, 2015
3. Build an inclusive community of people in your branch of the Ignatian Family who are willing to wade into some of these waters. #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
5. Love the people in your community, including yourself, and those who have hurt and disappointed you. #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
Love is the thing that helps us see that building multicultural communities is often messy, but always beautiful. And celebrate that beauty.
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
Go to Eucharist, the dinner party of the Jesus movement, and build up the Body of Christ. @theoethicist #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
Standing applause for Maureen. Her talk on race was a challenging, soul-searing call to CONVERSION. #IFTJ15
— Ignatian Solidarity (@IGsolidarityNET) November 8, 2015
