The Catholic Church and the Struggle for Racial Justice

by Mathew Kappadakunnel

Publisher:

Paulist Press

, 2024

Overview

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.

Key Features

.
• Responds to the prophetic call
• Promotes the dignity of all people based on the belief.
• Confronts racism writing from his own personal spiritual journey.

Praise for The Catholic Church

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)

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

Product Details

• Title: The Catholic Church and the Struggle for Racial Justice
• Author: Mathew Kappadakunnel
• Publisher: Paulist Press
• Print Publication Date: 2024
• Pages: 176
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• ISBNs: 9780809156481, 0809156482
• Resource ID: LLS:CTHLCCHRCHRJSTC
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-09-18T20:03:11Z

About Mathew Kappadakunnel

Mathew 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.