A Response

Source: ancientfatih.com

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; make and female he created them." (Gen. 1:27)

It was jarring to hear the latest verbal assault upon a particular national/ethnic group living within our country. We are on uncharted and dangerous territory when hearing, from deep within our nation's halls of power, that a particular national/ethnic group - the Somali - has been called and dismissed as "garbage." This is unprecedented in our public discourse. And, really, there is only one thing that can be done with "garbage." Such rhetoric enflames and emboldens those who are prone to prejudice and unfair judgment of the "other" within our midst. A public apology might not be forthcoming, but we, as Christians, must "fight the good fight" on the interior level, so as not to allow such inappropriate language to undermine our respect for the integrity of other people, regardless of their national/ethnic or religious background.

This is not a "political" statement, but a moral and ethical stance that is, I believe, supported by the Gospel.

Fr. Steven