View Rev. Bryan Massingale's remarks, titled "Healing the Soul of a Nation: The Challenge of Racial Justice," during the 2021 ACCU Annual Meeting
Catholic Colleges and Universities Act
Catholic higher education has responded in a variety of ways to the events of spring 2020, as campuses work to make inroads against the tide of systemic racism. Some are looking with candor at their own institution's past, while others are educating a new generation of leaders to move the country forward.
Marquette University unveiled a new campus mural, titled “Our Roots Say That We’re Sisters.” The theme of the image is representation, the idea that all members of the diverse community are seen and acknowledged, as depicted by four BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) women (see image, right). Designed by artist Mauricio Ramirez, the mural was completed by students, faculty, and staff who gathered for a "Community Paint Day."
Four Lasallian educators took part in a webinar to help participants understand and learn how to act in response to systemic racism. View the recording here.
Loras College made the decision to remove a statue of its founder, after discovering that Bishop Mathias Loras had enslaved a woman from 1836 to 1852.
In Minnesota, the University of St. Thomas convened a group to discuss the renaming of Loras Hall after the revelation about Bishop Loras came to light.
The University of Dayton released a historic letter that demonstrates systemic racism at the institution, along with a video aimed at helping educate and put the letter into context.
In June 2020, the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University hosted a public dialogue titled, "Racism in Our Streets and Structures: A Test of Faith, A Crisis for Our Nation."