(PNS) It is with heavy hearts and concern that the National Hispanic/Latino Presbyterian Caucus of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denounces the recent acts of violence against Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) sisters and brothers, specially, last week’s March 17, 2021 murder of six Asian and Asian American women.
The environment and acts of violence, hate and the expression of racism of white supremacist acts against people of color in our nation are a denial of God’s commandment to love our neighbors and is sinful.
Furthermore, we are dismayed by how the intersection of race and sexism were clearly manifested in this latest attack on Asian and Asian American women.
The National Hispanic Latino Presbyterian Caucus lifts its voice to denounce such sinful acts. We call our sisters and brothers within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to stand firm against such sinful behavior. In the words of The Confession of 1967, we declare and believe that “God has created the peoples of the Earth to be one universal family. In his reconciling love, God overcomes the barriers between sisters and brothers and breaks down every form of discrimination based on racial or ethnic difference, real or imaginary. The church is called to bring all people to receive and uphold one another as persons in all relationships of life: in employment, housing, education, leisure, marriage, family, church, and the exercise of political rights. Therefore, the church labors for the abolition of all racial discrimination and ministers to those injured by it. Congregations, individuals, or groups of Christians who exclude, dominate, or patronize others, however subtly, resist the Spirit of God and bring contempt on the faith they profess.”
The National Hispanic Latino Presbyterian Caucus also endorses the statement against AAPI violence and racism of the Racial Equity Advocacy Committee (REAC).
Rev. Carmen M Rosario, Co-moderator National Hispanic/Latino Presbyterian Caucus
Rev. Alfredo Miranda, Co-moderator
Rev. Jesus Juan Gonzalez, Treasurer
Carmen Iris Lopez, Secretary
by the National Hispanic/Latino Presbyterian Caucus, special to Presbyterian News Service
