Free Republic

When Race Doesn’t MatterIt was only after I had begun Basic Training, courtesy of an offer from the U.S. Army I could not refuse, that I met my first black man. Well, maybe a dozen of them, actually. I felt an immediate rapport with them, owing to a sense of shared suffering. For those of you whom God may have spared, I am referring to nine nightmarish weeks spent slogging through the snow and the ice and the mud of Ft. Dix, New Jersey while demented Drill Sergeants screamed obscenities at us. And the closeness, of course, would only deepen...

Washington cardinal urges nation to remember Black heroes on MLK DayOn this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington wants Americans to recognize the determination, perseverance and contributions of African Americans throughout United States history in spite of the obstacles they faced. NEW YORK — On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington wants Americans to recognize the determination, perseverance and contributions of African Americans throughout United States history in spite of the obstacles they faced.“African American heroes and heroines have an important lesson to offer all Americans because they exhibit a determination...

‘We need the Lord to cast out demon of division in our nation,’ cardinal saysWASHINGTON (CNS) — Celebrating a livestreamed Mass for the community of Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington Jan. 13, Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory noted how sometimes the readings of the day “fit our lives so perfectly.”They “somehow almost mystically describe where we are at this moment,” he said.Washington’s archbishop then pointed out how that day’s Gospel reading, Mark 1: 29-39, which described Jesus curing Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever and later casting out evil spirits, could be connected to the COVID-19 pandemic and to the Jan....

‘We need sacramentality,’ Cardinal Gregory tells members of consecrated lifeWASHINGTON, D.C. — Virtually addressing members of consecrated life serving the Archdiocese of Washington, Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory spoke of the challenges of the past year and thanked them for the work they do.The biggest challenge of this past year, he said, has been “not being able to be with the people of God.”“We need sacramentality,” he told more than 50 members of consecrated life gathered online for an Advent Day of Reflection Dec. 19.He also asked the women and men religious to pray for the “increase of knowledge and acceptance...

LifeSite delivers over 42k signatures to Abp. Gregory, asking him to apologize to Trump WASHINGTON, D.C., November 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – LifeSiteNews has delivered our petition to Archbishop Wilton Gregory, which asks him to apologize to President Donald Trump and the Knights of Columbus for the harsh and divisive remarks which he made about the president’s planned visit to the Shrine of Pope St. John Paul II in early June. Recall the Archbishop’s caustic remarks about the president’s visit: I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion...

Maryland Catholic conference focuses on racial justice As efforts aimed at police reform sweep the nation, Washington Catholic Archbishop Wilton Gregory has called on Maryland lawmakers to push ahead with their plans.In a virtual town hall meeting Tuesday night, the Catholic leader said social media highlights controversial deadly encounters by police, but most police are dedicated guardians of public safety. However, Gregory said reform efforts are still needed.“Until we can get to the point where a young Black kid, a young Black man, can feel safe when he’s encountering a police officer, we’ve got to talk,” Gregory said.The online session,...