A White Catholic's Guide to Racism and Privilege

by Daniel P. Horan

Overview

Winner of a 2022 Association of Catholic Publishers Excellence in Publishing Award: General Interest (Third Place).

Growing up, Fr. Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M., never thought much about race, racism, or racial justice except for what he read in history books. His upbringing as a white, middle-class Catholic shielded him from seeing the persistent, pervasive racism all around him. Horan shares what he has since learned about uncovering and combatting racial inequity in our nation and in our Church, urging us to join the fight.

In the spring and summer of 2020, US cities erupted in protests and racial tensions ran high following several high-profile killings of Black women and men at the hands of white police officers. As America watched and listened, many of us became dislodged from our comfortable assumptions about race. Horan recognized this unnerving dynamic as a doorway to the awakening and spiritual conversion he has been undergoing for much of his adult life. In A White Catholic’s Guide to Racism and Privilege, Horan speaks prophetically to what has become a gnawing unease for so many. With candid critique and reflection, Horan helps us makes sense of crucial issues such as:

• The difference between what sociologists call common-sense racism and systemic racism.
• What is meant by white privilege and how is contributes to racial injustices.
• The Catholic Church’s teachings about racism, how those can still be developed, and what those teachings require of us.
• Combatting racism in our everyday lives.

 

As a white man, Horan shows his fellow white Catholics how to become actively anti-racist and better allies to our Black brothers and sisters as we work against racism in our culture and in the Church. He offers us the hope and surety of the Gospel, the wisdom of Catholic tradition, and some practical ways to educate ourselves and advocate for justice.

Each chapter includes a substantial suggested-reading list.

This book is perfect for individual or group study.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646800766
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	09/03/2021
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M., is director of the Center for Spirituality and professor of philosophy, religious studies, and theology at Saint Mary’s College. He previously served as the Duns Scotus professor of spirituality at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He is a columnist for National Catholic Reporter and the author of thirteen books, including A White Catholic’s Guide to Racism and Privilege, The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton and Catholicity and Emerging Personhood, which received a 2020 Excellence in Publishing Award from the Association of Catholic Publishers.

Horan regularly lectures around the United States and abroad and serves on a number of university, academic, and publication editorial boards, including the St. Bonaventure University Board of Trustees, the Franciscan School of Theology Board of Regents, and the Board of Directors of the International Thomas Merton Society. He is cohost of The Francis Effect

Table of Contents

Introduction xi

Why This Book? xv

Why Me? xvii

Why Now? xix

A Note about Language, Style, and Audience xxiii

1 What is Racism and How Do We Talk about It? 1

Racism Is an Actual Conspiracy 2

What Is Racism? 4

There Is No Such Thing as "Reverse Racism" 11

Further Reading 18

2 What Does It Mean to Be White? 19

Whiteness as a Social Construct 25

Whiteness as Normative 29

Whiteness as Property 36

White Fragility and Rage 42

Further Reading 48

3 Racism Is a White Problem 51

Why Doesn't Anything Seem to Change? 53

The Role of White Power 58

Popular Culture, Media, Society 63

Socialization and Implicit Bias 68

Further Reading 71

4 Systems, Structures, and Institutions 73

What America Is and Is Not 76

Racial Profiling and Police Brutality 82

Mass Incarceration 88

Racism and the Catholic Church 92

Further Reading 102

5 What Does the Catholic Church Teach about Racism? 105

Vatican II and Papal Teaching 107

Global Perspectives 114

Statements from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 120

Proposals for Anti-Racist Church Leadership 131

Further Reading 136

6 How to Be More of an Ally and Less of a Problem 139

Recognize the Significance of Your Social Location 141

Relearn What You Thought You Knew 146

Develop a Spirituality of Ongoing Conversion 153

Further Reading 156

7 Where Do We Go from Here? 157

At the Personal and Family Level 160

At the Local Level 164

At the National Level 168

The Urgent Call of Now 171

Acknowledgments 173

Notes 177

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Written with wit, charm, and love, this book offers us a vital roadmap to healing and hope.” —Patrick Saint-Jean, S.J., author of The Spiritual Work of Racial Justice

“Important, urgent, and necessary.” —Rev. James Martin, S.J.

“Every Catholic needs this book and every parish should consider a small-group study of it!” —Rev. Matthew S. O’Donnell, pastor of Saint Columbanus Catholic Church, Chicago, Illinois

“This book may be an uncomfortable read, as it will prick consciences and perhaps even anger some, but you should read it with an open mind and heart anyway.” —Gloria Purvis, Catholic speaker and media host

“Fr. Daniel P. Horan offers invaluable guidance and resources for white Catholics who hope to recognize and respond in faith to the anti-Black racism in ourselves, in our society, and within our Church.” —Matthew J. Cressler, author of Authentically Black and Truly Catholic