Racism is a sin, a life issue, and an unhealed wound.

April 21, 2021 | Yesterday, after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts of the murder of George Floyd, many in our nation let out a collective exhale.

Undoubtedly, the conviction provided an important measure of accountability. But at the same time, we know that accountability is only one component of justice. It does not bring George Floyd back to his family. It does not repair the trauma experienced — especially by people of color — from witnessing his tragic public killing, all too reminiscent of a lynching.

True justice requires more than accountability alone. True justice seeks to center the needs of victims, make amends, and transform broken systems. And from this perspective, there is still much work to be done.

Over the last decade, CMN’s work to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice has shed light on the institutionalized racism endemic to the U.S. criminal legal system. 

Amid a national reckoning on racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, we are called to uphold the Church’s teachings against racism, to work to dismantle broken systems, and to build up approaches to justice that are equitable, healing, and life-giving.

Racism is a sin, a life issue, and an unhealed wound. This is the teaching of our Church.

As an Easter people who have been transformed by Christ and his resurrection, may we recommit to engaging in the hard, ongoing work of dismantling racism in all its ugly forms so that transformation may be possible within our communities, systems, and even ourselves.