The Racial Killing of George Floyd and the Catholic Church Reactions

George Floyd of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA,
was brutally killed by police on May  26

Photo courtesy: nytimes.com/

A mural of George Floyd of Minnesota, USA

Photo courtesy: medium.com/

Police arrested George Floyd, an African-American man, on a complaint of passing a spurious 20-dollar bill in a store in Minneapolis on May 27. He was handcuffed and the police tried to place him in a police vehicle but failed as he was unwilling to enter the vehicle saying that he was claustrophobic. Then four policemen pinned him to the ground with their knees. In spite of his cries, " I can't breathe," " I can't breathe," one policeman, Mr. Derek Chavin, kept on pressing his knee on his neck for minutes. When his limping body was taken to hospital, he was pronounced dead.

The whole scene of arrest and policemen's brutal behaviour toward him was videotaped by more than one spectator. The videos became viral and spread throughout the world like wildfire. Condemnation and anger were expressed around the world including the USA against this blatant racism. 

The U.S. Catholic Church leaders were quick to express their resentment and outrage, too. A number of priests, bishops, laypersons, and Catholic charities and organizations condemned the racist and dreadful behaviour of the policemen and demanded justice for it. 

 On May 29, U.S. Bishop Chairmen (of seven committees of U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops) gave a statement in the wake of the death of George Floyd and national protests, saying: "We are broken-hearted, sickened, and outraged to watch another video of an African American man being killed before our own eyes. What's more astounding is that this is happening within mere weeks of several other such occurrences. This is the latest wake-up call that needs to be answered by each of us in a spirit of determined conversion." 

The statement also said: "We cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy, and justice."

 On May 31, Archbishop Jose H. Gomes of Los Angeles and President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in a separate statement said: "The killing of George Floyd was senseless and brutal, a sin that cries out to heaven for justice. How is it possible that in America, a black man's life can be taken from him while calls for help are not answered, and his killing is recorded as it happens?

"I am praying for George Floyd and his loved ones, and on behalf of my brother bishops, I share the outrage of the black community and those who stand with them in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and across the country. The cruelty and violence he suffered does not reflect on the majority of good men and women in law enforcement, who carry out their duties with honor. We know that. And we trust that civil authorities will investigate his killing carefully and make sure those responsible are held accountable."

It further states, "We should not let it be said that George Floyd died for no reason. We should honor the sacrifice of his life by removing racism and hate from our hearts and renewing our commitment to fulfill our nation's sacred promise -- to be a beloved community of life, liberty, and equality for all."

The Catholic Church has its own drawbacks, too. It needs to be consistent, insistent, and striving all time to see changes in the discriminatory behaviour in all spheres of life. Its own people are not immune from racism, casteism (especially in south India, where the higher caste Catholics have separate seats in certain churches and separate graveyards than the low-caste Catholics), and other types of injustices. 

For more details, please read the following: 

• Killing of George Floyd exposes blind spot on racism, Catholic advocates say (May 27, 2020)
• After death of George Floyd Minnesota Catholics pray for justice (May 29, 2020)
• Bishops call racism a 'real and present danger' in aftermath of death of George Floyd in Minneapolis (May 29, 2020)
• Statement of U.S. Bishop Chairmen in Wake of Death of George Floyd and National Protests (May 29, 2020)
• Pandemic hinders Catholic response to Minneapolis killing (May 29, 2020)
• Racism 'at heart' of man's death at hands of police, says Pax Christi USA(May 29, 2020)
• Christ can overcome racism, Minnesota priest says at George Floyd prayer service (May 30, 2020)
• Cardinal O'Malley reacts to Floyd's killing (May 30, 2020)
• Catholic Charities USA Condemns Killing of George Floyd (May 30, 2020)
• 'Racism is not a thing of the past' -- US bishops respond to George Floyd killing (May 30, 2020)
• Bishops 'sickened' by Floyd's death, say racism 'real and present danger' (May 31, 2020)
• Statement of Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, on the murder of George Floyd and its aftermath (May 31, 2020)
• Crux: George Floyd