This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another  

-John 13.35  

For General Information

Office for Racial Justice 

 312-534-8336

Workshops on Racism & Ethnic Sensitivity

 312-534-8348

Mission

 The core mission of the Office is to address the sin of racism by providing parishes and schools with the tools to initiate and enhance their efforts to combat racism. Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., established the Office for Racial Justice July 1, 2000. The Office is a direct outgrowth from the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Task Force on Racism as a response to the beating of Lenard Clark in 1997.

The Archdiocese of Chicago will

• Acknowledge that racism is a sin that has created a racist society in which the dominant culture benefits.
  
• Encourage Catholic to search their own hearts on the questions of how the sin of racism has touched them.
  
• Guide parishes to proclaim the gospel message that stresses our unity, and design pastoral responses that will help combat the sin of racism.
  
• Create educational opportunities in schools and parishes that will uncover the truth about racism in America and in our local communities while providing the means to bring about healing.
  
• Stimulate church involvement in community initiatives addressing issues of racial justice.

Initiatives are driven by three principles:

• A call to change attitudes and behaviors that will lead to a conversion of heart and reconciliation among peoples of every ethnic and cultural background.
  
• A commitment to take concrete, visible steps to dismantle personal and systemic racism.
  
• To witness through our lives and actions the unconditional love of God for all human beings regardless of their racial, religious, or national origin.

  This recommendation is made the understanding that the archdiocese must combat racism in a manner consistent with the mission of the local church. Accordingly, we see that this commitment connects integrally with the Archdiocese's evangelization efforts in the new millennium.