Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange Stand Against Racism and Misogyny

As Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, we condemn racism and sexism in all its manifestations.  The ever-increasing violence against Asian-American and Pacific Island persons is horrifying.  As a congregation with members who are a part of these communities, the pain and suffering are real and palpable.  It calls forth our commitment to presence, witness, and advocacy to join with others whose passion for justice and dignity for all flows from our gospel mandate to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:4).

​

We believe that the uniqueness, dignity and worth of every person derives from creation and we stand for each individual who is equally precious.  We condemn the denigration, disrespect and/or oppression of people based on the color of their skin, their ethnicity, or their culture.  To do this, is to dishonor the sacred in the world, in oneself and in others.

​

As members of LCWR, we fully support the most recent statement that condemns racism and sexism:

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious condemns racism and sexism in all their harmful forms whether the violent acts of white supremacists and misogynists or the daily acts of hate and discrimination that diminish us all.

​

We grieve with the citizens of Atlanta and the Asian-American and Pacific Island communities. We mourn with those who have lost loved ones to hateful acts of violence, with all who live in fear, and with all whose dignity is threatened by xenophobia and chauvinism. We lament the racism and sexism that continue to afflict our communities, threaten neighbors and denigrate all we hold dear.

We acknowledge our own complicity in institutional racism and sexism. We commit ourselves to cleanse our hearts and rid our land of these twin evils. We promise to continue to use our voice and our energy to build God’s beloved community where all are one.

​

These appalling and vicious actions emphasize not only the intersection of violence, racism, misogyny, but also gun violence particularly against Asian and Pacific Islander women.  Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange stand for respecting the dignity of the person.  We commit ourselves to the sacred promise of inclusivity, so "that all may be one" (John 17:21).

​

Therefore, we ask others to join us in calling our elected officials and urge them to:

• Confront the menace of armed hate against people of color.

• Support and pass sensible legislation to end gun violence and not just offer their thoughts and prayers.

​

We invite all people of good will to:

• Join us in pledging to examine our own biases and positions of privilege through self-reflection and earnestly work to resolve them.

• Pledge to affirm the value of diversity and instill respect for dignity.