The Catholic Church and the Struggle for Racial Justice

A Prophetic Call

This book is an invitation to respond to the prophetic call, stemming from Baptism, to promote the dignity of all people based on the belief that each person is created in the image of God, particularly those who suffer racial injustice. Kappadakunnel confronts racism writing from his own personal spiritual journey with a prophetic voice, grounded in a deep faith, with experiential insight, and a theologically informed perspective.

Endorsements

"At the heart of Matt Kappadakunnel's eye-opening exploration is conversion. He humbly discloses not only his personal wrestling with, and discovery of, the ineluctable connection between religious faith and social justice, but also uncovers how racism, Eurocentrism, and bias damage evangelization. He argues that the Church is necessarily racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse and must stand with and beside those whom any social order marginalizes, despises, and excludes. To do this requires an openness of mind and heart to the word of God and the demands of justice."
—M. Shawn Copeland, Boston College

"Honest, prophetic, and spiritually rich. A valuable guide for the personal and communal conversion necessary to dismantle racism in the church and society."
—Marcus Mescher, PhD, associate professor of Christian ethics, Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio)

"Matt Kappadakunnel cries out with an urgent reminder that the struggle for racial justice is integral to our baptismal call as children of God! The Catholic Church and the Struggle for Racial Justice combines personal and theological reflection to make the case against racism as a heresy that runs counter to the catholicity of the Catholic Church. He connects the crisis of American racism to the story of his own ancestors—Catholics from Kerala, India, whose lineage dates back to the evangelization of St. Thomas the Apostle—and how they struggled (and continue to struggle) against the Eurocentrism of the Church. This book is an important contribution to the growing literature on Catholic racial justice that makes a compelling case for why Catholics must join in the beautiful struggle for a more just world!"
—Matthew J. Cressler, PhD, associate professor of religious studies, College of Charleston

"In this inspiring narrative, Kappadakunnel confronts racism, writing from his own personal spiritual journey with a prophetic voice grounded in a deep faith, with experiential insight, and a theologically informed perspective. He challenges the faithful, including Church leaders who are too often complicit or silent on systemic racism, to become more outspoken and deliberate about confronting racism in society and the Church. Readers will be informed, inspired, and challenged."
—Todd Salzman, Amelia and Emil Graff Professor of Catholic Theology, Creighton University

Matt Kappadakunnel is a Catholic of South Indian descent and a member of the Syro-Malabar Church. He has written for a variety of publications and speaks on racial justice and Catholic spirituality to parishes and Catholic organizations, including the Ignatian Teach-In for Justice. He lives in Los Angeles.
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