Return to Other Items

Return to More Educators' Resources

Return to Main Index

Printer friendly version            

Commission on
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ACTION
To Promote Justice
__________________________
DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND__________________________

RESOLUTION ON CLEVELAND'S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM

WHEREAS, the Commission on Catholic Community Action (CCCA), from its grounding in Catholic social teaching which emphasizes the God-given dignity of every human person, recognizes the importance of respecting the cultures and sacred symbols of all peoples;

WHEREAS, the CCCA has over the years consistently opposed stereotypes, policies and practices that demean and degrade people, that continue injustices and that detract from healthy multicultural diversity;

WHEREAS, members of the Native American community in Northeast Ohio find the Chief Wahoo logo for the Cleveland's Professional Baseball Team offensive to their religious and cultural heritages and also express concern and dismay over the continued use of the name "Indians.";

WHEREAS, the 1988 Vatican document The Church and Racism (issued by the Pontifical Commission "Justitia Et Pax') states that acts "which lead to contempt and to the phenomena of exclusion must be denounced and brought to light without hesitation and strongly rejected in order to promote equitable behavior" [par.26};

WHEREAS, the 1984 Pastoral Letter What We Have Seen and Heard issued by the Black Bishops of the United States says that "Without justice any meaningful reconciliation is impossible.  Justice safeguards the rights and delineates the responsibility of all.  A people must safeguard their own cultural identity and their own cultural values.  Likewise they must respect the cultural values of others.  For this reason sincere reconciliation builds on mutual recognition and mutual respect." [pp.6-7];

WHEREAS, the 1979 Pastoral Letter of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Brothers and Sisters To Us affirms that "As individuals we should try to influence the attitudes of others by expressly rejecting racial stereotypes, racial slurs and racial jokes.  We should influence the members of our families, especially our children, to be sensitive to the authentic human values and cultural contributions of each racial grouping in our country." [p.10];

AND WHEREAS, in this year of 1993 proclaimed by the United Nations as the Year of Indigenous People we should strive even more to show a real sensitivity to the needs, concerns and problems of Native Americans;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Catholic Community Action urges Cleveland's Professional Baseball Team to discontinue the Chief Wahoo logo and FURTHER urges the Team to re-open the dialogue regarding its use of the name "Indians" as matters of justice and sensitivity to Native Americans and to our overall community.

Adopted August 17, 1993 by the CCCA Board

1027 SUPERIOR AVENUE

CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114-2526

PHONE: 216/696-6525


Mark W Pestak, Chairperson
Christine Krosel, Secretary


LEONARD M CALABRESE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Juanita Larkin, Vice Chairperson
Frank R Osborne, Treasurer