Recognizing the Sin of Racism & the Dignity of All: An Interview with Gloria Purvis
By Victoria Mastrangelo,
In many ways, the murder of George Floyd last May served as a turning point in American politics, activism, and social justice conversations. It has brought to light the painful history of the Black community in America and has sparked conversations about the police, unjust social structures, and the reality of racism. This dialogue is also an ongoing point of debate within Catholic circles, particularly on social media.
Perhaps no one knows more about this particular American Catholic conversation than Gloria Purvis, who has spent the last year speaking and commenting on this social moment in order to move Catholics toward the important work of anti-racism and racial reconciliation. Gloria was the host of the Morning Glory show on EWTN Catholic Radio for five years until this past year when her show was not renewed after she spoke out against racism and police violence.
Gloria has worked in various mediums including TV, radio, and writing. She would now say that her typical daily work is as “a Catholic commentator that uses various forms of media to spread the gospel truth.” Gloria views her primary vocation to be her role as wife and mother, but also recognizes that she has been called and gifted to do this particular work. When asked to describe herself, Gloria responded: “I see myself as a regular Catholic. I never planned on being a public Catholic, but the Lord had other plans for me.” I recently spoke with Gloria more about her work, what she is seeing happening in the Church in America today, and what her hopes are for the faithful.
Victoria Mastrangelo: What are some of the biggest push-backs that you get when you present on the topics of racism, racial justice, and reconciliation?
Gloria Purvis: For some reason, many people don’t think of racism as a sin. They don’t believe that racism as a systemic injustice exists. This is most shocking because they don’t think about racism as a destruction of the spiritual, human family. Their framing is political or social but not spiritual. Ignoring the spiritual aspect means we don’t see each other as all coming from God, nor do we see each other as brothers and sisters. Racism completely severs that bond between us.
VM: Based on what you’ve seen and encountered in your work, how would you describe or characterize the state of the Catholic Church in America at this moment with regard to racism?
GP: Having been deeply enmeshed in the pro-life movement where people think about protecting life in the womb, I have seen, unfortunately, that when the conversation deals with the issues of racism and police brutality, some in the movement side less with the gospel and more with public figures on social media who can (and do) undermine the pro-life witness by their hostility toward issues of human life and dignity with regard to race. Their counter-witness to the dignity of all life can lead people astray.
As Catholics, we value human life from conception to natural death, but too much focus has been on winning political races as the main means to protect life in the womb. The seductive idea of winning political power has become a siren song that lures us away from our core understanding of the human person as Imago Dei. I say this because some of us act as if they have taken a blood oath to support and defend political figures or social media figures who champion life in the womb while simultaneously tearing down the human person outside the womb. These individuals often demand blind allegiance without criticism. However, their counter-witness deserves our rebuke; otherwise, we can be lulled into thinking that all we have to do is “vote pro-life” or vote for a particular political party and our work is done. While we must demand the legal protection of life in the womb, we must also create a culture of life by our actions, words, and witness regarding the dignity of the human person outside the womb.
To rely on a mere political victory as a means to fulfill the mandates of the Gospel is insufficient. We cannot make human respect and the dignity of life conditional. It must be respected and protected at all stages of life.
We cannot take comfort in following a political party as proof of moral uprightness or as a shield for the final judgement. The problem is allegiance to temporal powers rather than to Jesus Christ.
Blind allegiance is dangerous. It weakens our ability to recognize repugnant and odious views when they arise from political figures or social media figures who are seen as allies in the legal fight to protect the unborn. For example, there is a repetitive talking point coming from some quarters that strips George Floyd of his human dignity because of his past crimes and drug addiction. There is no empathy, no compassion, and no righteous anger over his brutal murder. Their rationalizations are not unlike the rationalizations of pro-abortion advocates who are quick to deny the right to life for the unborn based on what they believe are reasonable conditions or circumstances.
VM: What are some conversations regarding racial justice and reconciliation that you feel are not being had and should be in the Catholic Church?
GP: I often ask myself: “Where are the faithful, orthodox voices to provide a clear witness in this conversation?”
So many people seem to jettison their faith, their values, and even their reason because they perceive racial justice as a “left issue” and they don’t want to concede or lose politically to the left. Again, many say things like “racism isn’t real” or argue that it’s just a ploy from the left to enact their policy changes. I want to hear the Church push back and respond with the truth found in our own teachings. Racism is a sin and our souls are at risk. Denying its existence or relegating it only to the areas of mere policy and law is an error. People have to look at things in context and in history. There is a long history of creating these structures of sin in our country and we must recognize our blind spots.
For example, after Geoge Floyd’s death, there should have been more clear and direct conversation about George Floyd having inherent dignity and being worthy of respect, despite what he’s done, especially from our Church. Instead, there was silence or criticism of the protests without any real discussion about the evil of racism in our society.
VM: Do you see or have you experienced any good examples of this work being done?
GP: Yes, definitely. There are universities, chaplaincies, and parishes focusing on racism as a sin that ruins our society and robs us of our salvation. For example, The McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame University and the Knights of Saint Peter Claver and the Ladies’ Auxiliary have held multiple programs confronting racism. Some are also teaching the history and context of the social structures of the sin of racism. Many of us are simply unaware of the history of our country post-emancipation. Many people don’t know about the genocidal brutality experienced by the Black community in this country.
VM: What is your advice for someone who wants to take a concrete step in their parish to try to change this lack of dialogue and bring awareness to the work of anti-racism?
GP: Start with something easy and educational, like a movie night. Don’t title it as “anti-racism” or anything, but use it as an educational experience. Establish guides for conversation so that people feel more comfortable asking their questions. Some great documentaries that I suggest are: Slavery By Another Name, Eyes on the Prize series, and any of the Henry Louis Gates series on PBS. These films can be an easy way to open people’s eyes to the realities experienced by the Black community in America. You can also start with a book club or try listening to books together on audio to discuss. Some good suggestions are The Color of Law, Slavery By Another Name, or When Affirmative Action was White.
VM: Do you think that women have a special role in this fight for a more anti-racist society and Church? If so, what do you think that is?
GP: I think we do because we are relational. I think we can be influencers in mending the bonds of the human family. Women in particular can emphasize the necessity of this work in the prolife movement. When people ask women to choose life for their child, she can remind the movement that “you need to choose life for your neighbor and for my children as well.”
I have been wondering why people think they need a theology degree to say things or to teach and bring awareness about the evils of racism. They don’t. They just need to speak the truth about the dignity of the human person.
VM: Do you ever struggle with disillusionment or losing faith/hope in your work? What keeps you hopeful/motivated?
GP: I really think God has given me a special grace. He’s given me a peace that I can’t really explain. It comes with being willing to speak light into the darkness. People need to pray, people need to try to practice detachment from honors (it’s a trap from the devil to prefer that). Any scorn or harassment that you receive––really take that to the Lord. Ask the Lord to tell you when to speak and when not to speak.
You will see the face of the enemy in the most unexpected places––both in the vitriol and rage as well as in the sugar and honey that people present to you. Really thinking about the Our Father, particularly the line “thy will be done,” is a good guidepost for this work. Recognizing that this is all our daily work to grow in holiness, to do interior inspection with the Lord’s help, especially with the sacrament of reconciliation. There are going to be times when you need to do some self care, set a boundary from the toxic to preserve yourself. All of this is our gradual daily work.
VM: What are your hopes for the Catholic Church in America?
GP: I am so hopeful that the Church could help people see the coherence in our teachings about the dignity of the human person and embrace it while rejecting the practice of putting party ideology in place of the Gospel. I hope that the Church can help us become disentangled from the clutches of party ideology.
I am also hopeful that the Church can deal with our own history and compliance with previous racist practices and ideology––how Black communities were ignored, Black men and women not being seen as fit for the priesthood or religious life, etc. We can hopefully undergo a psychological exorcism and change our notions about what holiness looks like. I make this statement based on the hostility I received for sharing images of Jesus and Mary as Black people. It was revealing to witness the demands for historical accuracy especially from people who never make those demands when Jesus is portrayed as White.
One day, I hope that all are open to the diversity in the Church and that they will accept all that is beautiful and true in that diversity.
You can find out more about Gloria by following her on Instagram (@iamgloriapurvis), on Twitter (@gloria_purvis), or by reaching out to her through the Catholic Speakers of Color website or by subscribing to The Gloria Purvis Podcast here.
