Letters

‘Self-serving’ Reflection

Posted

I was surprised then disturbed by George Weigel’s most recent contribution to “The Catholic Difference” (CNY, Jan. 21). The objects of his scrutiny tend toward the loss of the European soul, conflicts with modernity and defense of Popes St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. I am not aware of any reflections on racism from his particular Catholic perspective or for that matter in the pages of CNY. Even though the last several years have been witness to devastating tragedies visited upon black individuals and even a black congregation at the hands of white men, the public face of our Archdiocese and our CNY commentators are notable for their silence on these matters.

Rather than addressing the recent numerous public incidents of racism, which have given rise to responses like the “Black Lives Matter” movement, Weigel has chosen to delimit racism by defining a category identified as “Liberal Racism.” Yet his examples of the putative liberal racism of European theologians toward African hierarchical positions at the recent Synod on the Family are disingenuous. Rather than resembling classic racism against black Africans in the European’s use of systems of meaning and values attached to skin color, the comments more properly reflect a certain European Catholic perspective at odds with a carefully articulated African Catholic perspective. Most offensive was the description of this conflict as a series of  “Steppin Fetchit knockoffs,” than any particular position of the Europeans.

George Weigel and CNY have not chosen to seriously confront the racism so evidently at work in New York, the United States and elsewhere. Let them not abuse black Africans or black others by characterizing black ideological conflicts with their interlocutors in ways that are simply self-serving.

Father Gregory Chisholm, S.J.

Manhattan

 

Father Chisholm is pastor of St. Charles Borromeo/Chapel of the Resurrection and All Saints parish and the dean of Central Harlem.