Elizabeth Julian RSM.
Elizabeth Julian RSM
Why is it wrong for me to think that ‘those’ people who may not look like me or sound like me don’t belong in my country, my neighbourhood, my school, my workplace, my sport’s team, my club, my parish, my religious congregation or even my family? Why is it wrong for me to discriminate?
Fifty years ago the Church made a very challenging statement: ‘Nevertheless, with respect to the fundamental rights of the person, every type of discrimination, whether social or cultural, whether based on sex, race, colour, social condition, language or religion, is to be overcome and eradicated as contrary to God’s intent’ (Gaudium et Spes, 29).
Why is discrimination ‘contrary to God’s intent’ sinful? First, we are creatures of inestimable dignity and worth not because we’re playing for the Hurricanes – because of our own merits, and not because advertising tells us ‘because you’re worth it’, but because we are made in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26-27).
What does this mean? Suggestions over the years have been numerous.
For example, we are like God because we can think, love, decide, create, or we are like God because we have authority over the earth and the animals.
However, in the biblical world ‘image and likeness’ was understood in relational terms. It meant being a representative of.
A ruler was thought to be the image of a god – someone who could exercise authority for a god as ruler over the land.
In the Genesis story then, the man and woman are God’s representatives. They exercise dominion, authority; but it’s God’s authority, not their own. They are responsible to God for the earth and the things of the earth.
Second, God became human in the incarnation. What Jesus reveals is there is something about the human that makes us open to receiving God.
As finite women and men we are capable of receiving the Infinite, a really astounding claim.
In other words, two key doctrines found in the creed – creation and incarnation – lead us to affirm the dignity of all.
So I am like ‘those’ people made in the image and likeness of God and therefore worthy of the utmost dignity and respect.
To discriminate is sinful.
Dr Elizabeth Julian RSM is a Lecturer and Distance Learning Education Co-ordinator at the Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand.