Bishop Paul McAleenan, Lead Bishop for Racial Justice, has welcomed a letter written by CARJ – the Catholic Association for Racial Justice – highlighting the complex issues surrounding inequality and COVID-19.
CARJ argues that a Multi-Faceted Action Plan is required to bring about genuine change.
“I welcome the Catholic Association for Racial Justice’s very important reflection on how the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately harmed Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.
“We all have a responsibility to address the longstanding questions of racial inequality in our society that have been brought to the fore by this crisis.
“I sincerely hope that our government and politicians will take account of CARJ’s call for a comprehensive action plan in pursuit of justice for those who have made such a tremendous contribution and paid such a high price.”
A recent report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) made it clear that people from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are much more likely to die from COVID-19 than white people.
The Government has opened an Inquiry into this matter and the Labour Party has initiated a Review under Baroness Doreen Lawrence. CARJ will be feeding into the Government Inquiry and the Labour Party Review.
Read the full text of CARJ’s letters to its supporters and wider society.
On 7 May Bishop Paul McAleenan calls on Government to tackle disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minorities.
