Chicago Archdiocese unveils anti-racism strategic plan

Published: 2004-02-03

CHICAGO (CNS) -- To end racism in society, the Archdiocese of Chicago plans to start from the inside out. The archdiocese's Office for Racial Justice unveiled an anti-racism strategic plan Jan. 23 that starts by training archdiocesan staff members to recognize racism within their own walls. "The anti-racism strategic plan is created to dismantle racism and build relationships within our parishes, schools and institutions," said Sister Anita Baird, a Daughter of the Heart of Mary, who is director of the Office for Racial Justice. Her office has been preparing the plan for more than two years. "Then, we'll carry that pattern into the larger society so that we can all dwell together in God's love. ... We have to dismantle racism in the church so the church can be an effective instrument of anti-racism in society," she told The Catholic New World, newspaper of the Chicago Archdiocese. The plan, which has five-year goals and two-year objectives, comes in response to Cardinal Francis E. George's pastoral letter on racism, "Dwell in My Love," written in 2001.

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