A PROVEN FOUNDATION FOR FRUITFUL MINISTRY
CONGRESS X PLAN OF ACTION
Most Reverend John H. Ricard, S.S.J.
President of the Board of Trustees
(Article: Page 12 of 19)
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ACTIONS SINCE CONGRESS IX
§ The Commission met regularly through monthly conference calls to identify, assess, plan, and formulate implementation of the Pastoral Plan of Action of 2002 and the National Leadership Commission Agenda of 2005.

§ The Commission obtained information from Offices of Black Ministry or Multicultural Ministries across the country, mainly from the Eastern, Southern, and Midwestern regions.

§The Commission developed a Vision Statement: "We as descendants of the African Diaspora believe that all who embrace the precepts of the Catholic Church are called to eliminate the sin of racism." We titled the project: "Moving Beyond Bitterness and Anger: U.S. Black Catholics Address Racism in Our Church and Society."

§ The Leadership Commission identified four "Ideal States" or goals, with strategies for implementation.

CONTINUING OUR SOLIDARITY IN ACTION (2007-2012)
Goal #1
Continuing to promote and affirm the efforts of members of the hierarchy in combating the existence of racism⁶.

Steps to Achieve Goal #1
#1 Members of the clergy should speak out on racism with passion and zeal as an issue that is consistent with our defense of human life and human dignity. A responsible organization within the Congress Movement can develop "homily helps" in this regard.

#2 Provide information that shows the connections between racism and various societal problems such as: violence and inequities in education, housing, and economic benefits.

#3 Promote workshops for Church leaders, including clergy and consecrated religious, on diversity.

#4 Promote diversity in hiring by diocesan curia.

#5 Promote diocesan involvement in the Black Community (e.g., conducting business with Black-owned businesses; advertising job openings in Black newspapers).

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