JULY 2020

GUEST columns
A Phone Call about Racism and Black Lives Matter
“
We hold these
truths to be
self-evident,
that all men are created
equal; that they are endowed
by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights;
that among these are life,
liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.” TRUTH! Or as
some teenagers would say…
FACTS!
At the height of the
protests and riots following
the death of George Floyd, I received
a phone call from a young Chaldean
woman asking if the Chaldean
Church could address racism and support
the black community and the
Black Lives Matter movement. It was
a cordial call that I appreciated very
much because it seemed to be rooted
in a sincere solidarity and care for the
systematic injustices experienced by
the black community. I was first very
humbled by the fact that this young
woman wanted the Church and one
of her priests to speak about these issues;
and I realized the grave responsibility
a priest, and any leader for that
matter, has to guide the community
toward living the truth in a socially
responsible way.
I first expressed my own solidarity
with the black community and the
hardships they face. Putting aside
any media skepticism, the reality is
that there is a lot of pain and anger
in those protesting. I reinforced
the truth that all people are created
equal, in the image of God; regardless
of race, ethnicity, religion, etc.
The Bible is very clear as Genesis
1:27 reads “God created mankind in
his own image, in the image of God
he created them; male and female he
created them.” The United States
Catholic Bishops express it perfectly
by stating, “Racism is a sin; a sin that
divides the human family, blots out
the image of God among specific
members of that family, and violates
the fundamental human dignity of
those called to be children of the
same Father. Racism is the sin that
says some human beings are inherently
superior and others essentially
inferior because of races. It is the sin
that makes racial characteristics the
determining factor for the exercise
of human rights. It mocks the words
of Jesus: “Treat others the way you
FATHER
JOHN JADDOU
SPECIAL TO THE
CHALDEAN NEWS
would have them treat you.”
Jesus calls us to love and
to recognize the inherent
dignity of each human person.
Furthermore, Jesus calls
us to compassion for those
suffering around us. Compassion
comes from the Latin
word “compati” which
means “to suffer with” and
so as followers of Christ, our
call is to walk with those
bearing burdens and struggles.
Amen? AMEN!
Now here is where the phone call
transitioned to a more difficult conversation
that was necessary but still
sensitive. We spoke about how I did
not feel comfortable advocating for
the Black Lives Matter movement
because of the political nature it assumes.
In bringing up the Black Lives
Matter movement, the young woman
was moving away from speaking about
the truth and dignity of each human
person, and more about the politics
that surround this issue. Do black lives
matter? Of course they do! As a priest,
I desire to advocate for the truth and
live in solidarity for those who experience
injustices. I wholeheartedly
proclaim that black lives matter, just
as I affirm that all lives matter. Some
will say that in my affirmation that
“all lives matter,” I am belittling the
Black Lives Matter movement and
driving attention away from it. That
is not my intention at all – but simply
another affirmation of the truth. No
political party or organization has dominion
over the truth, but I have noticed
that racism has been politicized
in a way that has made us lose sight of
the truth that Jesus Christ desired to
proclaim. You are made in God’s image,
“fearfully and wonderfully made”
(Psalm 139:14). Presently though, the
country is in a time where it is important
to be in solidarity with our black
brothers and sisters and to proclaim
that black lives do in fact matter. Although
I don’t support the entire platform
of the socially progressive Black
Lives Matter movement, in solidarity
with my black brothers and sisters, I
proclaim that black lives matter.
What this country needs, and
what our Chaldean community
needs, is a devotion to the truth, and
not a political platform. As Jesus was
asked by Pontius Pilate before being
condemned to death on a cross,
“Quid est veritas?”, “What is Truth?”
we also need to ask this question.
And yet the answer is not what, but
who. Jesus says, “I am the way, the
TRUTH and the life” (John 14:6).
As a Chaldean community, I pray we
do not lose sight of Jesus when advocating
and peacefully protesting for
justice in truth.
Father John is a Chaldean priest at St.
Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church in
Troy, MI.
JULY 2020 CHALDEAN NEWS 7