April 20, 2021
In the wake of today’s verdict, let us first pause and pray. . . for George Floyd and his family and for officer Derek Chauvin and his family. Let us pray for our African American brothers and sisters who are victimized and traumatized by the systemic racism that is insidious in our culture. We pray, too, for our law enforcement officers so their encounters with all dear neighbors are conducted safely and humanely. Lastly, let us pray for the jurors who took an oath to act justly.
We join the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph and our partners-in-mission in a call for peace and nonviolence for all who wish to be heard.
The heart-wrenching image of a dying George Floyd will not fade away easily, and we recognize today’s moment as a pivotal time to engage whole-heartedly in the difficult work of unraveling systemic racism and biases that fuel unjust treatment of people of all colors.
We join with the voices calling for law enforcement reform that includes ending the use of life-threatening forms of physical restraint when a person is not resisting arrest and/or is already in custody.
As Sisters of St. Joseph, we are called to a life of profound union with God and with each other, we commit ourselves to live non-violently, to work to transform structures that promote violence and to affirm the dignity of persons. With God’s guidance, we seek to recognize one another with dignity and love as we move forward in building a better future together. In this collaborative work, we ask God for deep healing of all communities and improved relationships with the people who serve them.