If you are trying to make sense of some of the controversial and confusing issues in today's world, we invite you to take a few minutes to listen to our new video series, St. Theresa Round Table Conversations, featuring discussions of the key principals of Catholic social teachings.
 

Too often racism comes in the form of the sin of omission, when individuals, communities, and even churches remain silent and fail to act against racial injustice when it is encountered."
                                           - The USCCB, Open Wide Our Hearts, 2018

What the Catholic Church says about racial injustice

The Catholic Bishops of the U.S. call on all Catholics to read their letter on racism. 
 

Promoting Social Justice

Actions you can take now to promote social justice:
 

Mentor a Child   

The majority of children in need of mentoring are non-white.

• Our Kids at Heart, ourkidsatheart.com, is run by Fr. Mark Hamlet at Sacred Heart Parish in Austin.
• CASA of Travis County, www.casatravis.org, become a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children who have been abused or neglected.  Training is provided.
• Big Brother’s Big Sisters provides mentors to at-risk children.
• Foundations Communities needs academic tutors to help children who live in their low-cost housing units.
   

More Opportunities to Volunteer

• Talk to parishioners who are actively involved in the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society chapter and learn more about their work and the families they help. Contact Gil Koss at gkoss@austin.rr.com
• Restorative Criminal Justice Ministry at the Diocese of Austin. Educate yourself on our justice system and the effects it has on our society as a whole.
• Provide financial advise and tax help to families in need served by Foundation Communities.
   

Make a Difference in the Workplace

If you are in a management position:
     a. Find out what your company's policy is on racism. 
     b. Is there diversity training?  If so, participate.  If not, ask HR why not?
     c. Are there diversity groups/employee resource groups at your company?  If so, join one to further educate yourself.  If not, sponsor one.
     d. Be a leader in cultivating diversity and addressing unconscious bias
     e. Are fair employment / interviewing practices truly being followed?
     f. Fair wage - review your team to ensure people in similar roles / job grades are being compensated fairly and have equal opportunity for promotions.

If you are a non-management employee:
     a. Stop the gossip that a person of color only got promoted because of affirmative action
     c. Find out what your company's policy is on racism. 
     c. Is there diversity training offered?  If so, participate.  If not, ask HR why not?
     d. Are there diversity groups/employee resource groups at your company?  If so, join one to learn more about the issue.
 

Educate Yourself

Read books, listen to Ted Talks, Watch movies - not just about racism towards black/African Americans, but also people of Asian, Latino & Hispanic heritages.

Here are some video series that can be watched On Demand that show how various groups have been treated:
- Asian Americans
- Peabody award winning series on African Americans - Many Rivers to Cross, also
- Reconstruction:  America After the Civil War