Asking the Clergy: How can people of faith respond to bigotry in a loving way?

Cancel culture is a popular term for withdrawing support for people who make objectionable comments regarding race, ethnicity, gender or religion. But is “canceling” the best way to counter hate speech? This week’s clergy discuss ways of engaging those who make offensive comments without publicly shaming them.

The Rev. Thomas Cardone

Chaplain, Kellenberg Memorial High School, Uniondale

Imagine walking into a kindergarten classroom and looking around. What might you see? Posters of encouragement touting "share," "listen," "helping hands" and "being kind" — the fundamentals of being a person in relationship. As a person matures, the Scriptures come alive in helping us deal with challenging questions of bigotry and living in community.

Here are some kindergarten basics for people of faith. First, remember we are all created in the image and likeness of God to be brothers and sisters. If we forget or ignore this truth, we cannot become a community. Two, be cautious about comparing oneself to others. If this becomes our pattern of behavior, we will see ourselves as either superior or inferior to others; both are unhealthy. Three, Jesus calls us to be merciful. We need to get into the shoes of our brothers and sisters, and see, hear and feel life from their perspective. Four, answer Cain's question on a regular basis. "Am I my brother's (and sister's) keeper?" The answer is always, yes.

We are responsible for the well-being of others. It all starts with sharing, listening, helping and being kind.

The Rev. John Shirley

Rector, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Lake Ronkonkoma

There is a verse from the Gospel of St. John that comes to my mind when I think of constructively and lovingly dealing with bigotry: Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13:34)

When I hear or read those words, I am reminded to love in ways that soften hearts. I am also reminded to be humble, to listen and at the same time to strive for justice, equality and dignity.

Christians are called to respect the image of God inherent in all people, not just people who look like us, pray like us, speak like us or think like us. It is a call that necessitates that we lay aside our prejudices, preconceptions, racism and xenophobia, and move forward living a life of faith that conforms to the life of Christ — a life of compassion and generosity while standing against injustice and inequality. It is not always easy, and we often have to reevaluate ourselves as we attempt to live into the Reign of God already at work in creation, but we persist humbly and lovingly.

Rabbi Art Vernon

Congregation Shaaray Shalom, West Hempstead

The Jewish community is very attentive to expressions of bigotry whether directed against Jews or against others. Perhaps the clearest expression of Jewish sentiment on the issue is from the Book of Leviticus — “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18) Over the generations, Jewish commentators have understood the term “neighbor” to include our fellow human beings, not only Jews.

Today we face two challenges — ridding ourselves as individuals of any residual bias or prejudice in our thinking or actions toward others, and combating expressions of bigotry from whatever the source. Our opposition to bigotry in all its forms and expressions derives from the Creation narrative in the Bible. According to Genesis, a single human was created, and then a partner, from which all humanity derives. Therefore, there is only one race — the human race — because we all emanate from a single source.

Fully understanding and embracing these ideas from our Scripture are the means to confronting and defeating all expressions of bigotry.