About Us

statement of purpose:

We seek to be a Catholic voice encouraging our faith communities to challenge and own the history of racism in our Church and community, to engage in the difficult conversation around race, and to participate in action for racial justice in the wider community. Our collaborative recognizes that it is our spiritual duty to combat the sin of personal and institutional racism.

Our story:

We are a multiracial group of religious and lay Catholic leaders from parishes and organizations across the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The collaborative formed in September 2017, just before St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley was acquitted of the charge of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith. In anticipation of that controversial verdict and the racial tensions surrounding it, members of the collaborative drafted a statement calling upon Catholics to wrestle with the difficult realities of racism in our faith community and the broader society. Since its founding, the Catholic Racial Justice Collaborative has identified key initiatives to raise awareness of racial inequity and work toward just solutions; it meets monthly to further those efforts.

from our members

Growing up in the ‘60s my faith was formed by witnessing religious people of many faiths standing up for and demanding justice. I never understood how a Christian, in good conscience, could do anything less. I want there to be no doubt that the St. Louis community knows that when it comes to racial justice and racial equity there will be a strong Catholic voice to be heard. Together, as a Collaborative, we can be that voice.

— Gerry Rauch

our goals:

To organize ourselves and our Catholic communities to take action to combat racism as it exists in our Church, in ourselves, and in our society
To provide tools and resources for Catholics to learn about personal and institutional racism
To elevate and amplify the voices of Catholics of color, particularly Black Catholics, in the Archdiocese of St. Louis

with members from parishes across the archdiocese of St. Louis

St. Clare of Assisi (Ellisville)

St. Cletus (St. Charles)

St. Cronan

St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist

St. Francis Xavier “College” Church

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (Mehlville)

St. Margaret of Scotland

St. Matthew the Apostle

St. Pius V

St. Roch

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne (Florissant)

Sts. Teresa & Bridget

The Catholic Racial Justice Collaborative includes members from over 20 parishes and schools in St. Louis City and St. Louis and St. Charles counties, including:

Ascension Catholic Church (Chesterfield)

Chaminade High School

Holy Infant

Immaculate Conception Maplewood

Marianist Retreat Center

Mary, Mother of the Church (Mattese)

Our Lady Queen of Peace

Pax Christi USA

Sacred Heart (Valley Park)

Sisters of St. Joseph, Carondelet

St. Alphonsus Liguori “Rock” Church

St. Ambrose

St. Augustine

St. Catherine Laboure

For more information on the collaborative and how to join, call Kathy McGinnis at (314) 369-3821.