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ENGLISH

STATEMENT OF THE VINCENTIAN FAMILY


IN THE FACE OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
The Vincentian Family is a worldwide movement made up of more than
4 million believers and more than 160 ecclesial institutions which,
for more than 4 centuries, has served the most needy in our world.

As members of Vincentian Family, we do not want to nor should we remain impassive in


the face of the discrimination that millions of people still suffer today as a result of the color
of their skin, their national origin, their gender, their sexual orientation, their beliefs or their
culture. Racism is a cancer that corrodes our society and is present worldwide, in every country
and in every society. Not only is it a severe offence directed at anyone who is different, but it
is also an insult to our humanity and to the intrinsic dignity of every human being, and a very
serious sin.
As members of the Vincentian Family and as believers, we trust in a God who created all
people equal and thus, all are God’s children. Racism is therefore the complete opposite of
faith in the God who gave us life. As Christians, we follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who
never made distinctions among people and treated everyone with dignity and respect.
As members of the Vincentian Family, we want to continue to stand by the most forgotten
in our society and, among them, especially those who suffer discrimination because they are

Vincentian Family Office


500 East Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144, United States of America
Office: (215) 713-3984. Email: vfo@famvin.org. Web: https://famvin.org/vfo-en/
different. Saint Vincent de Paul, our founder, reminds us that we must love our neighbor simply
because our neighbor is “the image of God and the object of his love.” We reaffirm our com-
mitment to serve the excluded, the needy, the homeless, all those who suffer discriminatory
treatment for any reason. We commit ourselves to reinforce our actions and take measures so
that no one has to suffer harassment or death because of discrimination. We commit ourselves
to raise our voices in all forums where we are present to denounce these injustices. We commit
ourselves to giving a voice to those who are excluded and discriminated against, so that they
can be the protagonists of their own history.
Racial prejudice has no place in our society, in any public or private institution and must
be combated vigorously. The evil it causes not only affects the person who is abused and even
killed, but corrupts and destroys the social fabric and dehumanizes relationships, generating
irrational hatred. We therefore urge all authorities to take firm measures to ensure that cases of
segregation, racism, differential treatment and violence against any person, based on discrimi-
nation of any kind, are not repeated.
Human life is important, whatever the color of the skin, their national origin, their gender,
their sexual orientation, their beliefs or their culture.

Signed: The Vincentian Family Executive Committee (VFEC):

Rev. Tomaž Mavrič, CM, Sr. Françoise Petit, DC, Rose de Lima Suzanne Johnson,
Congregation of the Mission, Daughters of Charity Ramanankavana, Association of Intemational Charities
President VFEC Association of Intemational Charities

Renato Lima de Oliveira, Ricardo Tavares, Bro. Lawrence Obiko, CMM, Bro. Broer Huitema, CMM,
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Vincent de Paul Congregation of Brothers of Mary, Congregation of Brothers of Mary,
Our Lady of Mercy Our Lady of Mercy

Sr. Grace Hartzog, SC, Sr. Eileen Haynes, SCL, Sr. M. Teresa Slaby, SC, Sr. Barbara Flad, SC,
Sisters of Charity Federation: Sisters of Charity Federation: Sisters of Charity Federation: Sisters of Charity Federation:
North America North America Strasbourg Strasbourg

Rev. Sebastian Rev. Sanjai Devis, VC,


Thundathikkunnel, VC, Vincentian Congregation
Vincentian Congregation

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