Part One Flashcards
Define and explain terms including racial reconciliation, truth-telling, affirmative redress, lament, compassion, and solidarity, as used in our course materials (9 cards)
What does racial reconciliation mean?
A long-term commitment to healing the brokenness caused by racism. It requires the privileged group to own their complicity and benefit, and the oppressed group to be seen and restored.
What is truth-telling?
Acknowledging and naming historical and present racial injustice.
Example: Massingale insists the Church must tell the truth about its role in racism, including historical silence or complicity.
What is affirmative redress?
Concrete action to repair historical harm. Goes beyond apology toward systemic change and justice.
Example: This might include financial reparations, institutional changes, or public apologies like those discussed regarding Georgetown.
What is lament?
A spiritual and emotional expression of grief over injustice. Not just sadness, but a disruption of the status quo that pushes toward transformation.
Example: A liturgy of lament or public prayer to acknowledge the pain of racism, such as Georgetown’s 2017 Liturgy.
what is compassion?
A visceral reaction to suffering that compels action.
Course definition: “A gut-wrenching response to human suffering and anguish that propels one to act beyond the limits of what is considered reasonable…”
Example: Luke’s Gospel (Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son).
What is solidarity?
The commitment to the common good, where all people—especially marginalized groups—are included and valued.
Example: Massingale connects this to Catholic social teaching and emphasizes that solidarity must be an active effort to include all groups equitably.
How does engaging in racial reconciliation, truth-telling, affirmative redress, lament, compassion, and solidarity differ in oppressed vs non groups of people?
For the oppressed, these acts are often about survival, healing, and being heard.
For the privileged, they require discomfort, self-reflection, giving up power, and working toward justice.
Example: A white Catholic must confront white privilege (DeAngelo’s “White Fragility” and “A White Catholic’s Guide to Racism and Privilege”).
What Catholic practices foster solidarity?
The Eucharist as a symbol of unity.
Liturgy and public lament (rituals that honor suffering and promote healing).
Catholic Social Teaching, particularly themes like dignity and solidarity.
Welcoming the stranger at Mass (Epilogue example).
The welcome table (prodigal son example)
What is Kellerman’s argument about the Catholic Church’s responsibility for its slaveholding past. Explain how, if implemented, his suggestions would entail putting some or all of Massingale’s concepts (the terms presented in Racial Justice and the
Catholic Church, chapter 3) into action
In All Oppression Shall Cease, Kellerman says the Church must engage in truth-telling and redress by confronting its role in slavery.
His proposals echo Massingale’s terms: institutional lament, affirmative redress, and structural reform.
Example: Public acknowledgment of Church slaveholding and support for reparations programs would be acts of both truth-telling and affirmative redress.
