Bishop Lobkowicz: Each of us should clearly say NO to all manifestations of racism

The Bishop of the Ostrava-Opava Diocese, Mons. František Václav Lobkowicz, has issued a declaration regarding the assembly in Ostrava this coming Saturday, 24 August 2013. The declaration is the bishop’s response to the growing tension in society between members of the majority society and the Romani minority. News server Romea.cz publishes the declaration in full translation: 

Declaration by the Bishop of the Ostrava-Opava Diocese on the assembly in Ostrava on Saturday, 24 August 2013

The Catholic Church has been sent to all people irrespective of nationality, skin color, or social position. The church brings to each person the joyful news of the love of God, who gave us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Christ’s love also leads us to become engaged in the widest possible variety of forms of assistance to the needy, as such concrete acts of love are the fulfillment of all the commandments.    

The church also does its best to work for Roma and to aid them. This is not just about basic sacral services, but also about supporting concrete projects. The tools we use to assist them include the activity of the Ostrava-Opava Diocese Charity (Diecézní charita ostravsko-opavská), the education provided by the church-founded Přemysla Pittr Elementary School, the activity supported by the Salesians of Don Bosco, and the activities of the Sisters of Mother Tereza – Missionaries of Love. The life in various parishes all over the diocese where our Romani fellow-citizens live is also and indispensable part of that work.   

I would first like to express myself to the Roma themselves:

I very much appreciate your family solidarity and beg of you not to let anyone take it away from you. Family life should include clear relationships blessed by marriage so children know their parents are honest people who do not fear lifelong responsibility. By developing your own traditions and culture, you are helping your own children and youth to become mature citizens and human beings. Get actively involved in seeking opportunities to show your other fellow-citizens that all Romani people cannot be viewed as violent thieves and parasites, as the racists of this era have labeled you, but that you are people of enormous competence when you are given the opportunity to correctly apply yourselves.

Now I would like to express myself to the so-called majority society:

Do not let yourselves be provoked or carried away into manifestations of hatred and violence. Do not generalize from some of the negative experiences that are being disseminated by the media or that some people have personally experienced. There are also bad people among the "whites", and we could definitely find very many examples of violence, fraud, parasitism or theft committed by "whites" – but they are not discussed as much in the media and we do not pay as much attention to them. Each of us should clearly say NO to all manifestations of racism, such as those that are spread, for example, in the form of embarrassing "jokes" and links to social networking sites. Teach your children that EVERY HUMAN BEING IS OF EQUAL DIGNITY. Reject any manifestations of either left-wing or right-wing extremism, otherwise we will never find the path to peace and good coexistence.      

A brief word now to those who are stirring up this atmosphere of hatred and violence. Saint Paul exhorts us:  Turn yourselves around, change your mind and your behavior! Your thoughts, words and deeds are based in Evil, and so they are causing evil. For the love of Christ, I exhort you to reconcile yourselves with God and with your fellow human beings.  

I am aware that there is a need for long-term, small-scale, systematic work, and that verbal support for those who are engaged in the common good is not enough. I expect that once the state begins the restitution process, the church will be able to develop aid and services in those social work areas where local administrations or the state are failing. The support of projects for people who have found themselves on the outskirts of society through no fault of their own, the paying of attention to the disdained and the rejected, as well as the often-invisible services performed in concrete human situations – all of these are a testament to the fact that our faith is not dead.   

Mons. František Václav Lobkowicz, your bishop and brother