The Inclusive Reading Club will discuss religion, reparations and reconciliation at its next meeting

salvetoday Posted On February 11, 2022
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The next Inclusive Reading Club (IRC) — a rich monthly tradition of readings and discussions into subjects like slavery, police brutality, Native American heritage, LGBTQA+ issues and so much more — will be meeting again on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 4 p.m. in an online format. The event this month is entitled “Bending Toward Justice: Religion, Reparations and Reconciliation.” Any member of Salve Regina’s community is welcome to attend by registering for the Zoom link.

History reveals that many predominantly white American churches have long endorsed systems of structural racism and white supremacy through inaction or complicity, and research indicates that many white Christians today continue to deny the existence of structural racism. However, some institutions and churches are examining their role and responsibility in history and taking the steps towards reconciliation through the offering of reparations.

The IRC will take a look at calls for the Catholic Church to move toward reconciliation that was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as explore the power of healing and reconciliation borne out of reparations offered by some churches and institutions. The discussion will be facilitated by the IRC’s special guest facilitators — MaryAnne Davey, director of the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life, and Amy Cady, assistant director of the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life.

The Inclusive Reading Club be reading excerpts from the following books: “Birth of a Movement: Black Lives Matter and the Catholic Church” by Olga M. Segura and “The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism” by Jemar Tisby. Participants can get started with the readings here. Anyone can also share their thoughts on the IRC’s online bulletin board as they read, too.

Here is a list of questions to consider as one reads.

  • What has been your experience of how racial justice is addressed or taught in your religious tradition?
  • As a community of mission, a Catholic, mercy institution, what can Salve do within the community to begin to make reparation, to interrupt the cycle of racial compromise? On campus? In the Newport community? Beyond?
  • What does it mean in one’s own life to examine a response to reparations that are financial and spiritual?

Though it is not specified in the list of readings, the following are considered supplemental materials for this month.

The mission of the Inclusive Reading Club (IRC) is to engage members of the Salve Regina community in exploring issues of diversity and multiculturism through short readings and discussions. The IRC provides an inclusive environment that encourages participants to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of different identities, cultures and communities.

The IRC is managed collaboratively by the Office of Multicultural Programs and Retention and McKillop Library.

Join the IRC on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 4 p.m. in an online format. Any member of Salve Regina’s community is welcome to attend by registering for the Zoom link.

Featured photo by Getty Images/DisobeyArt