Catholic and Enjoying It!
A reader writes:
We used to live in Baltimore City, now in the suburbs, about 25 minutes away. I am sure you and your readers are praying for justice and peace. As Catholics, we know that the root of the discontent is so deep: has our society ever treated minorities with the dignity inherent in every individual soul? Slavery, Jim Crow, and then, in tandem with the Civil Rights Act, the hostility of policies which discouraged marriage, then the abortuaries and contraception clinics brought very deliberately into the poorer communities (and worldwide) –the “No brown babies” solution to poverty. This in no way excuses the violence, but it is the huge elephant sitting in the room, right? Lord, have mercy on us.
Anyway, here is a prayer that our associate pastor wrote. If you would like, please send it out. Thanks very much. Our Lady, Un-doer of Knots, pray for us! St Joseph the Worker, patron of fathers, pray for us!
Lord God,
We have seen violence, destruction, and injustice played out in our streets—this is the work of the evil one.
But we have also seen solidarity, construction, and dialogue take place—this is your healing hand at work.
Many are angry at their core as they witness injustice played out in their backyards and repeated again and again on television, stoking the flames of discontent.
Many have commandeered peaceful protests to wreak havoc—again, evil finds a voice.
But peace cannot claim You as its source unless justice be its foundation.
Faith in our justice system is shaky in Baltimore as it is in other parts of this country, where the security of some overrides justice for all.
May steady hearts placed at your feet win the day, recognizing that anger and courage come from the same source.
May justice prevail, so that peace may follow.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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