Racial equity and justice committee’s vital work

By Archbishop Gregory Aymond

Like many of you, I have been shocked and, at times, horrified by the racial injustices that have become evident in our country over the past few months. We can never tolerate racism and injustice, either personal or systemic. The church has called out racism and will continue to call out racism for the sin that it is, as we admit that our church has at times been complicit in individual and systemic racism. For this, I am truly sorry.

To make every effort to assure that the Archdiocese of New Orleans is doing its best to eliminate racism, I am announcing the creation of the Committee for Racial Equity and Justice. This committee, composed of archdiocesan administrative staff and external stakeholders, will examine the policies and practices of the archdiocese in the areas of diocesan administration, parish life and formation on the social justice teachings of the church for clergy, archdiocesan staff and lay faithful.

Some of the particular areas that will be examined are diocesan hiring policies, diversity training for clergy and diocesan staff, and support for our Black Catholic community, all Catholics of color and all ethnic groups.

The committee will examine ways in which all Catholics – clergy, religious, seminarians and the laity – can be formed in such a way as to promote an equitable and just community. The committee will be chaired by Ty Salvant, who has been involved with the racial harmony committee at St. Dominic Parish, has worked with the Junior League of New Orleans on its diversity and equality committee and is a regular columnist for the Clarion Herald’s NOLA Catholic Parenting pages. Deacon Martin Gutierrez, chief operating officer of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, will serve as the vice chair.

Others who will play important roles in the committee’s deliberations are Father Daniel Green, the pastor of St. Maria Goretti Parish in New Orleans and the director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministries; Deacon Michael Whitehouse, deputy superintendent of the Office of Catholic Education and Formation; Dr. Derek Rovaris, vice provost for diversity at LSU’s flagship campus; Dr. Emilie Leumas, archdiocesan archivist; Katherine Shea of the Office of Catholic Education and Formation; and Deacon Jesse Watley, who serves at Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish and has done great work in helping parish communities unpack the U.S. bishops’ most recent statement on racism, “Open Wide Our Hearts.”

We are open to everyone’s input, and that is critical when discussing a subject so important theologically and emotionally.

At the end of the committee’s work, I am looking forward to receiving recommendations about what steps the archdiocese might take in order to respect the life and dignity of each person. The work of the committee is going to be vast and hard, but it is very important work that needs to be done.

I know there will be some who feel that this is not enough, but my hope is that this is a definitive step in the right direction. May God grant us the grace to live up to his command to “love one another.”

Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to clarionherald@clarionherald.org