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Statement of Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, on the Atlanta-area shootings

March 18, 2021

To our brothers and sisters in the Asian-American community, please know the Archdiocese of Chicago and the whole church stand with you in this moment of grief and horror. We pray for the victims of the Atlanta shootings and their loved ones.

A recent study found that from 2019 to 2020 anti-Asian hate crimes increased 150% — even while hate crimes in general dropped 7% over the same period. This is intolerable. We pray for all who suffer racist violence and hate speech. There can be no place for either in our society, and it is incumbent on all of us to resist language, culture and acts that denigrate Asian Americans and all people of color — because they have deadly consequences. We must be ever vigilant against words that inspire acts of hate — this responsibility is even greater for elected officials.

When people make racist comments or jokes, it normalizes bigotry, reinforces racism and risks encouraging those who would commit hate crimes. It is incumbent on all Christians, all Americans, to resist subtle and overt acts of bigotry, to build up the common good through acts of love for all our neighbors, near and far.