As a faith community that is founded on the love of our neighbour, of equality and on the sanctity of human life, we are deeply saddened at the current pain around the world being caused by injustice and ignorance.
At the heart of what our school stands for is our mission statement which includes the phrase,”We therefore promote the dignity and well-being of every child and ensure that they flourish with us in a safe, happy and enriching environment. We believe that everyone is gifted and called by God to fulfil some definite service for the greater good of society.’.
When we look at how our own students view interpreting our faith, we can only be proud of the words they profess to put into action, as recorded in the student creed, ‘At St. Greg’s, we are a family. We walk together in the footsteps of Jesus. We are all equal in the sight of God…Let’s work together for a better future.’.
The following statement released yesterday by the Catholic Bishops of England & Wales, is a reminder of our joint need to rid society of evil and come together to stand up to injustice.
We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the USA as they challenge the evil of racism and the brutal killing of George Floyd. As the US Bishops made clear: “we cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy, and justice.”
“Systemic racism is embedded in our own society. The disproportionate harm suffered by BAME people throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted profound inequalities, marginalisation and injustice here in the UK. The peaceful Black Lives Matter protests taking place in our towns and cities this week reflect the understandable anger that so many people feel about this.
“As Catholics we recognise that racism is an evil which must be opposed; we all have a responsibility for actively promoting racial justice. Whenever we ignore racism or dismiss BAME people’s experience of it, we are complicit in violations of human dignity. We pray for God’s help to overcome racism in all its forms and that we might protect everyone who suffers its consequences. We are all made in God’s image.”
Bishop Declan Lang – Lead Bishop for International Affairs
Bishop Paul McAleenan – Lead Bishop for Racial Justice
Pope Francis has written:
I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the tragic death of Mr George Floyd. We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.”
The Pope then cited a recent statement from Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), to denounce outcroppings of violence at some protests.
“At the same time, we have to recognise that ‘the violence of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost’.”
Pope Francis added that today he joins the Church in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and throughout the entire US, “in praying for the repose of the soul of George Floyd and of all those others who have lost their lives as a result of the sin of racism.”
