Chicago Illinois 60617-8388
Office: 773-721-5383 Fax:
773-721-2581
December
23, 2011
Chicago, Illinois - For Immediate Release
Evangelical
Catholic Church
responds to Cardinal Georges's comparison of
civil and human rights advocates to the KKK
The Evangelical Catholic Diocese of the Northwest releases
the following statement by Bishop James Alan Wilkowski regarding
today’s earlier statement comparing civil and human rights advocates
to the KKK.
“The Theology of
Social Justice and Peace advocates the responsibility of all
branches of the Catholic faith to provide the voice and, if
necessary, the physical presence to counter any and all attempts to
deny or prevent any person from their God-given rights and dignity.
With all due
respect, I believe that Cardinal George’s comments have failed to
witness these values and obligations, which are held sacred by all
Catholic jurisdiction.
Sometimes these
actions must go beyond writing letters to the Editors or posting
personal Blogs. It is the baptismal obligations of all Catholics,
regardless of their jurisdiction to sometimes take strong and
proactive stances to fight all forms of injustice to others.
The history of the
pastoral administration of the Catholic faith is permanently stained
by its many past acts of social prejudices and even the murders of
others in the ‘name of the faith.’ These past sins of our shared
history must be atoned for by this generation of all branches of
Catholicism through the embracement of the sacredness rooted in the
Theology of Social Justice and Peace.
As we prepare to
celebrate the birth of our Savior, we need not compare those who
advocate peace and justice within the Kingdom of God on Earth to the
KKK. We need to compare the faith of these advocates, these modern
workers in the vineyard - to that of our Holy Family”
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