Healing the Racial Divide: A Catholic Racial Justice Framework Inspired by Dr. Arthur Falls - Paperback

by Lincoln Rice (Author)

Healing the Racial Divide retrieves the insights of Dr. Arthur Falls (1901-2000) for composing a renewed theology of Catholic racial justice. Falls was a black Catholic medical doctor who dedicated his life to healing rifts created by white supremacy and racism. He integrated theology, the social sciences, and personal experience to compose a salve that was capable of not only integrating neighborhoods but also eradicating the segregation that existed in Chicago hospitals. Falls was able to reframe the basic truths of the Christian faith in a way that unleashed their prophetic power. He referred to those Catholics who promoted segregation in Chicago as believers in the "mythical body of Christ," as opposed to the mystical body of Christ. The "mythical body of Christ" is a heretical doctrine that excludes African Americans and promotes the delusion that white people are the normative measure of the Catholic faith.

Author Biography

Lincoln Rice grew up in Green Bay, WI and is a lifelong Catholic. He earned his PhD in moral theology from Marquette University and has published articles in American Catholic Studies and the Journal of Religion, Identity, and Politics. He currently teaches theology at Marquette University and is a member of the Casa Maria Catholic Worker in Milwaukee, WI, which provides temporary shelter for homeless families and promotes a variety of peace and justice issues.