25th Anniversary "Brothers and Sisters to Us": U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Statements on Racism25th Anniversary "Brothers and Sisters to Us": U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Statements on Racism25th Anniversary "Brothers and Sisters to Us": U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Statements on Racism

Looking Back

Twenty five years ago our nation and our Church underwent a metamorphosis of sort. The old paradigm of one nation, a melting pot of immigrants primarily from Europe was being challenged. People of color in the United States redirected America's moral compass of equality and justice. As the nation was challenge, so was the Church. The signs of the time as well as the atmosphere for equality captured the attention and the hearts of the Catholic Bishops as they posed the question "What does it mean to be brothers and sisters to all? This acknowledgement of the need, value and joy of human friendship became the focus of the Pastoral Letter.


Our history is littered with the debris of broken promises and treaties, as well as lynchings and massacres that almost destroyed the Indians, humiliated the Hispanics and crushed the Blacks.

-Brothers and Sister to Us- pg. 5