Part Four

Question 1

Use ideas from Massingale’s book (Racial Justice and the Catholic Church) and Seitz’s pastoral letter (Night Will Be No More), and other course readings if you wish, to explain why racism is a Christian theological problem.

Answer 1

Justice and the Catholic Church, Ch. 2; Seitz’s Night Will Be No More)
Massingale argues that racism is not just a political or social issue — it violates the core theological beliefs of Christianity:
It contradicts the imago Dei (the belief that all humans are made in God’s image).
It damages right relationship — a central concern in Catholic theology.
It undermines solidarity, a key Catholic social teaching.
The Church’s silence or complicity in racism (e.g., slaveholding) deepens the theological problem. Racism deforms both the victim and the perpetrator spiritually.
Christian theology calls for justice, truth-telling, and restorative relationships — making racism a sin that must be addressed theologically, not just morally.

Question 2

explain why the Wal-Mart Massacre Was Racist (According to Bishop Seitz) (Night Will Be No More)

Answer 2

Bishop Mark Seitz explains that the 2019 mass shooting at a Wal-Mart in El Paso, Texas, was not a random act of violence — it was motivated by white supremacist ideology.
The shooter targeted Mexican Americans, claiming they were “invading” the country. Seitz notes this reflects systemic racial hatred, not isolated mental illness.
Seitz connects this violence to broader cultural patterns of dehumanization, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and scapegoating of Latino communities.

Question 3

How does Seitz Uses Christian Beliefs to Offer Hope

Answer 3

Seitz draws from Christian themes to affirm the dignity and worth of his community:He emphasizes God’s presence in suffering and the power of compassion.
He calls the Church to stand with the marginalized and insists that “the night will be no more” — invoking resurrection hope in the face of despair.
Like Massingale, Seitz insists the Church must move beyond “thoughts and prayers” to truth-telling, lament, and concrete solidarity.

Question 4

How might Massingale’s exercise acknowledging visitors at Mass (described in the
Epilogue of Racial Justice and the Catholic Church) inspire a hope beyond racial
division among Catholics who experience it? Have you ever witnessed, or can you
imagine, a similar exercise in a community with which you are familiar? Explain.

Answer 4

Massingale describes a powerful liturgical moment in a South African Mass, where visitors were asked to stand and be welcomed by the congregation with warmth and joy.
This simple gesture created a sense of inclusion and belonging, contrasting with the coldness often experienced in U.S. parishes by people of color.
He reflects on how such a practice could bridge racial divides in Catholic communities and serve as a sign of racial reconciliation in action.