In 2016, the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate accepted the following statement as a Corporate Stance of the Congregation:
We, the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, commit to a stance of Anti-Racism. As we take this position, we promise to make conscious intentional efforts to eradicate racism in all its forms – individual, cultural and institutional.
EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE MAY DO TO BECOME ANTI-RACIST
We invite you to begin the anti-racism journey and walk with us by actively working on one or two of these examples.
- Learn all one can about racism – read books, watch movies, go to workshops and lectures
- Commit to anti-racism (Anti-racism = a conscious intentional effort to eliminate racism in all its forms – individual, cultural and institutional}
- Write letters to the editor of the paper when you see something happen, either positive or negative
- Regularly bring to prayer your desire to eliminate racism
- Value the qualities of people whose cultures are other than your own
- For white people, develop awareness of how white privilege impacts our lives.(Click here to view examples)
- Become aware that racism hurts everyone, not just those who are oppressed
- Be conscious of anti-racism in hiring practices
- Speak directly and honestly when one observes racism in institutions
- Inspire individuals/groups to curb racist speech and actions
- Have anti-racism dialogue with organizations and support them in their efforts to be anti-racist
- Provide ongoing education in areas of anti-racism and white privilege
- Utilize social media to convey the message
To read about “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh, click here.