NYC Priest Leads Vows Against "White Privilege" During Mass in Viral Video

What are your thoughts about this?

Pastor Fr. Kenneth Boller, SJ, of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in New York City led his congregation in vows addressing “white privilege” and “racial justice” on Sun., Aug. 30. He led the vows during Mass, just before the final blessing.

In the video, Fr. Boller invites the congregation to recite “a prayer for racial justice,” by responding “Yes.”

Here’s the video below: (Prayer begins at 54:10)

Click here if you cannot see the video above.

Here’s the text of Fr. Boller’s prayer:

“Do you support racial justice, equity, and compassion? Yes.

“Do you affirm that white privilege and the culture of white supremacy must be dismantled where it is present? Yes.

“Do you support racial equity, racial justice, and liberation for every person? Yes.

“Do you affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person? Yes.

“Therefore, from this day forward, will you strive to understand more deeply the injustice and suffering white privilege and white supremacy cause? Yes.

“Will you commit to help transform our Church culture to one that is actively engaged in seeking racial justice and equity for everyone? Yes.

“Will you make a greater effort to treat all people with the same respect you expect to receive? Yes.

“Will you commit to developing the courage to live your beliefs and values of racial justice and equality? Yes.

“Will you strive to eliminate racial prejudice from your thoughts and actions, so that you can better promote the racial justice efforts of our Church? Yes.

“Will you renew and honor this pledge daily, knowing that our Church and our community, our nation, and our world will be better places because of our efforts. Yes.”

Catholic Church teaching on racism and discrimination:

“Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity.

“The equality of men rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it:

“Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design. (CCC, 1934-1935)

“There exist also sinful inequalities that affect millions of men and women. These are in open contradiction of the Gospel:

“Their equal dignity as persons demands that we strive for fairer and more humane conditions. Excessive economic and social disparity between individuals and peoples of the one human race is a source of scandal and militates against social justice, equity, human dignity, as well as social and international peace.” (CCC, 1938)