Listen and Watch: Gloria Purvis Speaks on the Sin of Racism

February 1 marked the beginning of Black History Month, an annual observance honoring African Americans and recognizing their importance in American history. This year’s celebration is especially important due to the continued prominence of racism and the national failure to make tangible progress with regard to race relations, especially in the treatment of African Americans. 

Last July, Gloria Purvis, then host of EWTN’s “Morning Glory” program, joined Lenny DeLorenzo on Church Life Today, the McGrath Institute for Church Life’s podcast, to discuss the issue of racism in America not just from a political and legal standpoint, but from a religious one as well. Purvis serves as a national leader on pro-life and social justice issues, and consistently speaks out against the sin of racism. Expanding on her powerful assertion that “racism is demonic,” she stated on Church Life Today:

“[Racism] so clearly contradicts who God is and who we are in relation to God. We know we are made in his image and likeness, and that is why we have our dignity and respect, each human person, no matter what. Racism says, ‘God, you’re a liar. Not everybody is worthy of dignity and respect, only a few are. Only a select few.’ And that is just from the pit of hell. It is so obvious to me that the evil one is attacking the human family, attacking the human person, and for some reason we haven’t considered it on those terms. I think too often it’s been spoken about as if it’s merely a political issue, when it’s not. This goes to the very heart of who we are as human persons.”

Listen to the full podcast episode by clicking the button below:

In addition, just last week, Gloria Purvis was the first speaker in a series entitled “Conversations That Matter: The Intersection of Racial Justice and Life Issues,” hosted by the Notre Dame Office of Life and Human Dignity, which is also a part of the McGrath Institute.

Purvis’ session, “Racism: The Perduring Assault Against Human Life and Dignity,” touched on similar themes present in the podcast interview, once again shedding light on racism as not merely a political issue, but as something intrinsically evil—something that calls on Catholics to examine their individual and collective conscience, to convert, and to act on behalf of those affected in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Watch the full webinar by clicking the button below: