Catholic groups and bishops pray for an end to anti-Asian hate crimes and violence

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Washington – Catholic groups in Asia and the Pacific Islands and a number of Catholic bishops have joined with others in calling for an end to violence and hate crimes against Asian and Pacific Islander Americans.

“We call on communities to engage in peaceful dialogue at local and national levels to combat anti-Asian prejudices and prejudices. We defend the peaceful coexistence of all people, we pray for compassion and love, and work for healing and unity, ”said a March 31 statement from leaders of 16 groups representing Korean, Chinese, Indonesian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Hmong, Burmese, Indian and other Asians Catholics.

The statement was released by the Asian and Pacific Islands Affairs section of the Church Cultural Diversity Secretariat at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“The rise in violence against Asians across the country is alarming and horrifying to all with good reason,” Archbishop of San Francisco Salvatore J. Cordileone said in a March 30 statement.

He announced that the Archdiocese would organize an afternoon “Prayer Service for Easter Peace” at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Easter Saturday April 10.

“We will pray for an end to violence and racism, especially against Asians, for the healing of our nation and for the blossoming of peace and justice in our country,” he said.

On the evening of March 31, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, José H. Gomez, planned to hold an outdoor “Prayer Vigil for Racial Acceptance” at the Incarnation Church in Glendale, Calif., In solidarity with Americans from Asia and the Pacific Islands. Auxiliary Bishop Alejandro “Alex” D. Aclan was to be the homilist.

“We stand in solidarity with victims of racial violence across the United States as we uphold our commitment to the core values ​​of Catholicism,” Aclan said in a statement. “As we mobilize the faithful to take action against racism, we take Christian love, not political interests, as our guide.”

In a March 29 statement, Bishop Oscar Cantú of San José, Calif., Said the Asian community “has been on my mind and prayers recently, given the disturbing rise in animosity, prejudice, anti-Asian aggression and violence “.

“It is shameful to see this in our American society in our modern day,” said the bishop. He urged Catholics to embrace Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, “celebrate them and love them as brothers and sisters!” “

Protests and vigils were held across the country to demand an end to a growing wave of anti-Asian racism and violence and to remember the victims of these attacks.

Two Jesuit universities, St. Louis University and Georgetown University, held online vigils that also included discussions on the challenges facing communities in Asia and the Pacific Islands and how to better defend them.

The General Council of the Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan, also called for an end to violence against these groups and urged Congress to pass strong legislation against hate crimes.

The organization Stop AAPI Hate released figures in mid-March indicating that it had collected reports of 3,800 hate crimes across the United States in the past year against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Some of the better known reports include general harassment in public, such as being told to “come home” or leave the country, in restaurants and grocery stores.

Among the most recent attacks, a March 16 shooting at three spas in the Atlanta metro area left eight people dead, including six women of Asian descent. Law enforcement considers the mass shooting to be a hate crime.

“We need to support all victims of violence and stand in solidarity with those who are vulnerable in our communities,” Archbishop of Atlanta Gregory J. Hartmayer said in a March 17 statement after the shooting.

Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich echoed these comments in his March 18 statement on what happened in Atlanta.

Bishop Oscar A. Solis of Salt Lake City, chairman of the American Bishops’ Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs, also echoed the Archbishop of Atlanta’s call to be in solidarity with the vulnerable people of these communities.

In a March 22 statement, he said the Atlanta shootings had “prompted a national dialogue on addressing anti-Asian prejudices which have taken the form of numerous other acts of physical violence, verbal attacks and violence. destruction of property against people of Asian descent in the past year. that have left communities across the country traumatized. “

The March 31 statement from pastoral leaders of Catholic groups in Asia and the Pacific Islands said the March 16 shooting had “deeply saddened them” and that they had offered their prayers “for the deceased and comfort for their families. families and friends “.

“We stand in strong solidarity with our brothers and sisters in this time of hostility and violence targeting the Asian community in many parts of the country,” they said.

They highlighted Solis’ March 22 statement and noted that in May 2020, two months after the start of the pandemic, three episcopal conference presidents spoke out amid rising incidents of racism and xenophobia against Asian and Pacific Islander Americans due to “fear and anxiety fueled by the COVID-19 virus” originated in China.

Solis was joined in this 2020 statement by Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia, chair of the Bishops’ Committee for Cultural Diversity in the Church, and Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana, chair of the ad hoc committee of bishops. Against racism.

“With our shepherds, let us be aware and turn to the fundamental truth that, ‘because all humans share a common origin, they are all brothers and sisters, all equally created in the image of God. When this truth is ignored , the consequence is prejudice and fear of the other, and – too often – hatred, “” pastoral leaders said, citing the 2018 bishops’ pastoral on combating racism, “Open Wide Our Hearts” .

“As the Blessed Mother the Church celebrates the paschal solemnity of Jesus Christ – his suffering, death and resurrection – we place our hope and trust in a loving and merciful God who gave his only son, our Lord Jesus -Christ, to redeem us all from sin and death, ”they added.

In San Francisco, Cordileone noted that “brutal assaults have been carried out against Asian Americans here in San Francisco in recent days.”

“It’s not San Francisco! On the contrary, our city has always been an epicenter of Asian-American culture, with recurring waves of Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, South Asian and other immigrants overcoming the discrimination and the difficulties in contributing to the rich tapestry of life in this city, ”he said.

“In our own Catholic community, we are fortunate to be enriched by many vibrant Asian communities, which bring a lot of vitality to the faith life of our people,” Cordileone said.

“As Catholics, we also belong to a global faith community which is the most diverse and multicultural institution in the world; and as Americans, we have a responsibility on the world stage to show respect to all, affirming their human dignity, ”he said. added.

“We must therefore lead by example by working towards the much talked about but still elusive unity which is so necessary and desired in our society at this time,” he added.

Bro. Peter Zhai, director of the Chinese ministry of the archdiocese, which organizes the prayer service on April 10, said that the Chinese Catholic community in San Francisco welcomed “this call to pray together for unity and peace and end violence and racism.

“Our faith is strong and gives us hope that we can stand in solidarity with all San Franciscans of good will for a better future,” he said.

Added Fr. Moisés Agudo, Archdiocesan Vicar for Hispanics: “A rising tide of hatred must be confronted with a stronger swelling of love and prayer. Latinos in the Archdiocese of San Francisco community look forward to joining Catholics in San Francisco in supporting our Archbishop in prayer for peace and unity in this city we love. “

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