Prejudice and discrimination are sometimes shown in terms of colour, race, gender or disability. The issue that I have selected is colour and using the recent example of the Stephen Lawrence murder I will explain what Roman Catholic attitudes to this might be and suggest what Roman Catholics might do to support victims of this situation.
Firstly, racial prejudice means, "Thinking certain races are inferior or superior, usually without evidence." Secondly, racial discrimination means,"Putting prejudice into practise and treating people less favourably because of their racial, national ethnic or colour origins." Thirdly, racism means, "The belief that some races are superior to others based on supposedBiological facts." Stephen Lawrence was only eighteen years old when he was stabbed to death at a bus stop in April of 1993. T
his attack was concluded to have been unprovoked and was committed by a gang of white youths. But the case preceding the murder by the police was left unresolved because of 'insufficient evidence' and 'inadmissible' testimony. With this, the family was left very angry and so threatened to make a formal complaint against The Metropolitan Police. It was only then that the newly elected Labour government launched a full-scale inquiry. This inquiry led to the allegations of mishandled evidence and witnesses who were frightened because of conflicts in a community of varied races. All this mounted up to a loud call for the resignation of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Paul Condon.
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The Stephen Lawrence inquiry was prejudiced and discriminated against because the police treated the case less favourably as it was dealing with a man of a colour and race that they believed was inferior to theirs without having any evidence to back up their claim. Roman Catholic attitudes to this might be of disgust and anger, as they believe in the teaching that God created every human being in the image of himself and so if people are being racist to others then they are being racist to God as whatever people do to others they do to God. As God taught us, we should 'love thy neighbour as thyself.'
In God's eyes everyone is equal, so there should be no inequality within our community between different races, colours, gender or disabilities."Christians should never use force to put right injustices in society." I agree to this statement, as I believe that two 'wrongs' can never make a 'right.' Injustice is wrong and so is violence and so the only way to overcome injustice in today's societies is to discuss the problems to try and come up with solutions. This is what Mahatma Ghandi taught his people, that violence should never be used as if what you fight for is true, and you use non-violent methods, eventually your case will overcome your opponents.
On the other hand, if this does not work and succeed in gaining equality or fairness in the community then there is a need for it to be put right by using violence, as the problem will not simply just go away. Desmond Tutu said that he is against violence but insisted that if all else fails then he could agree to a use of violence in overthrowing injustice.
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An Analysis of Religious Education Coursework Effects of the Roman Catholic Tradition Upon Aspects of Christian Lifestyle. (2023, Mar 22). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/an-analysis-of-religious-education-coursework-effects-of-the-roman-catholic-tradition-upon-aspects-of-christian-lifestyle-and-behavior/
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