Theological and spiritual resource guide

Ignatian Solidarity Network | An Examen for White Allies

Goal of Document:

An Examen for White Allies

Who should use this:

White folks

The assumptions of white privilege and what we can do about it

Goal of Document:

A powerful reflection on white privilege using the example of Amy Cooper. Massingale integrates a theological-ethical argument for examining and dismantling white privilege.

Who should use this:

Everyone especially white people

video lecture at Notre Dame

Goal of Document:

Matthew Cressler in a lecture at Notre Dame argues that centering stories of Black Catholics requires us to reimagine broader  histories of American Catholicism.

Who should use this:

Everyone (Academic, Parish, students)

Toward a Catholic Understanding of the Phrase “Black Lives Matter

Goal of Document:

an explanation behind the cry “Black lives matter” 

Who should use this:

Everyone

The Church and Racism: A Voice Crying in the Wilderness

Goal of Document:

Clarence Williams, CPPS, PhD, helps the Church yet to find its voice to address racism, by speaking about Racial Sobriety as a way forward. 

Who should use this:

Everyone

Prayers for Racial Justice and Reconciliation

Goal of Document:

They’re different prayers about racial injustice for people to think about

Who should use this:

Everyone

combatting racism - parish resources

Goal of Document:

another resource from the United Conference Of Catholic Bishops which contains links to various PDFs composed of prayers and backgrounders.

Who should use this:

Parishes/everyone

prayer for the elimination of racism

Goal of Document:

This is a prayer to eliminate racism by the Sisters Of Mercy.

Who should use this:

Everyone

General Congregation 34, Decree 3 Our Mission and Justice

Goal of Document:

Jesuits decide to address more urgent calls for justice and taking more steps to address these injustices that are happening

Who should use this:

Everyone

ad hoc committee against racism

Goal of Document:

These are two videos, a prayer, latest information, and more resources provided by the United Conference Of Catholic Bishops.

Who should use this:

Parishes/everyone

Bishops Letter: Open Wide Our Hearts

Goal of Document:

This addresses Catholics and how to open oneself for learning and addressing ways they can start making differences within their family.

Who should use this:

Parishioners

A Message on George Floyd †, Race and Jesuit Education

Goal of Document:

The president of Loyola High School explains the Igantian duty to teach and to change internally.

Who should use this:

Everyone

We Stand…

Goal of Document:

This highlights the disparities that are happening with COVID-19 and urges people to see each other as one.

Who should use this:

Everyone

Standing Together in the Community of God

Goal of Document:

This book touches on how the Church is present and how God is then present within us and around us. 

Who should use this:

Everyone

For those progressing toward the middle of their journey

6 guidelines i’ve learned for talking about race

Goal of Document:

This resource seems to fall into both the interpersonal and theological categories as it is a step-by-step guide to bringing about anti-racism within oneself.

Who should use this:

Everyone

Black History Month: Confronting the Mixed History of the Jesuits

Goal of Document:

Reconcile the history that catholics and Jesuits have played in continuing racism in their communities.

Who should use this:

Jesuits Institutions, Students, Administrators, Teachers

Bryan Massingale, Racial Justice in the Catholic Church

Goal of Document:

A must read for faith formation and education around racism and Catholic social thought.

Who should use this:

Everyone

The Ignatian Witness to Truth in a Climate of Injustice

Goal of Document:

To give ways that those in higher education can take steps to address racism within themselves and their community and actively work for change

Who should use this:

College Students

After George Floyd’s Suffocation: A Litany for Oxygen From a Black Jesuit

Goal of Document:

A priest recounts how George Floyd only wanted to breathe, which is something God gave everyone the right to do, so it’s not right for black people to be denied it.

Who should use this:

Everyone

Statement: Catholic Theologians for Police Reform and Racial Justice

Goal of Document:

A call to action from Catholic theologians on police reform and racial justice.

Who should use this:

Everyone

Bishop Seitz Letter

Goal of Document:

This letter focuses on anti-Latino racism that exists and also must be addressed.

Who should use this:

Everyone

Black theology and a legacy of oppression

Goal of Document:

A leading Catholic theologian offers an overview of black theology written for a popular audience.

Who should use this:

Everyone

Racism is a Soul Sickness, Can Jesuit Spirituality Help Us Heal?

Goal of Document:

an article about how racism is within us, so we must turn to God and ask for strength to unite and heal our society.

Who should use this:

Everyone

Shawn Copeland Enfleshing Freedom: Body, Race, and Being

Goal of Document:

Copeland interprets Christology and sacramental theology with an intersectional lens.

Who should use this:

Universities

How Can Catholics help lead the fight against racism?

Goal of Document:

Ways that Catholics can bring the BLM movement into their spaces to hear what is needed and take action instead of being silent

Who should use this:

Parishes, Jesuit Institutions

In the fight against racism, white Christians must break cycle of distraction

Goal of Document:

To get people to stop the cycle of caring only to pretend racial injustice doesn’t exist anymore

Who should use this:

Students, Administrators, Teachers

The church must make reparation for its role in slavery, segregation

Goal of Document:

Shannen Dee Williams is a leading Catholic historian whose work examines racism in the Catholic Church and provides a theological argument for reparation

Who should use this:

Everyone

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and Racism

Goal of Document:

How people need to address racism in themselves and their communities to end it due to being morally unjust

Who should use this:

Students, Adults, Teachers, Administrators

Kelly Brown Douglass, Stand your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God

Goal of Document:

Written after the murder of Trayvon Martin, Douglass examines how the myth of white supremacy was supported by the idea of Christian exceptionalism. She offers a critical womanist perspective to challenge this myth.

Who should use this:

Universities

The Assumption of White Privilege and What We Can Do About It

Goal of Document:

article highlights what Catholics should do to make more active efforts against racism within our communities.

Who should use this:

Everyone

Arrupe Letter to North American Jesuits on Race

Goal of Document:

Arrupe wrote the letter to emphasize how dire action is needed, and that the Jesuits can’t let it continue.

Who should use this:

Everyone

Pastoral Letter on Racism

Goal of Document:

The letter emphasizes how racism exists within the Church’s system and how it needs to be fixed by people actively working on themselves and their community.

Who should use this:

Everyone