By Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley
Our world has suffered tremendously from terrorism. Innocent lives have been lost, leaving families, friends and communities devastated by grief and shock. Those killed, shot or wounded in terrorist attacks represent only part of the damage. The ripple effects extend throughout entire communities. Travel becomes frightening for many people, as does gathering in crowds. Suspicion falls upon strangers, and certain groups face widespread prejudice.
Among terrorism’s most damaging consequences is its capacity to breed prejudice and hatred among populations. While we rightly condemn the evil acts of radical terrorists, we must ensure their inhumanity does not diminish our own. History offers a cautionary example: during the Second World War, Japanese Americans were confined to concentration camps solely because of their ethnicity. This deeply un-American response emerged from fear. Fear has the power to drive people toward terrible and foolish actions.
Security measures are necessary, yet we must prevent hatred and prejudice from corrupting our hearts. Given the small Muslim population in our country, many Americans lack personal relationships with Muslims or direct knowledge of Islam. American Muslims face lower radicalization rates than their European counterparts. They enjoy greater economic stability, higher education levels, and stronger integration into mainstream society. Muslims represent just 1 percent of our population, yet comprise 10 percent of American doctors (20,000). My own dentist here in Boston is Iranian and Muslim.
More than 5,000 Europeans have joined the Islamic State, while fewer than 250 Americans are believed to have attempted to do so, with only about two dozen succeeding. Since 2001, law enforcement has prevented nearly half of jihadist plots originating in the United States, often because suspicious Muslims reported concerning activities to authorities. A notable example involved the parents of 16-year-old Ali Amin, who alerted officials to their son’s interest in IS. In August, the young man received an 11-year prison sentence after admitting guilt to fundraising for IS and assisting another American teenager in joining.
Christian and Muslim Arabs throughout the Middle East endure severe suffering from sectarian conflict. Among them are our Catholic brothers and sisters who are true martyrs, prepared to give everything rather than abandon their faith in Jesus Christ. Pope Francis traveled to Central Africa despite significant concerns because he wanted to encourage reconciliation and dialogue. His words and presence brought tremendous comfort to those people. Achieving peace in the Middle East and in our nation requires people of conscience to actively build community and bridge divisions and prejudices.
This Year of Mercy calls us to deepen our faith by finding ways to express God’s love and mercy in our interactions with one another. The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates Jesus’s teaching that true neighborliness means showing mercy. The Samaritan’s compassion toward the suffering stranger also demanded that he transcend personal prejudice and animosity rooted in religious and ethnic differences. Samaritans experienced rejection and contempt from the chosen people and often responded in kind, as demonstrated when they denied Jesus and the Apostles hospitality. A Cold War existed between Samaritans and Israelites, making the Samaritan’s kindness simultaneously an act of forgiveness, a rejection of prejudice and group hatred. Jesus concludes by instructing: “Go and do likewise.”
As we consider the refugee question, we should recall the closed doors Mary and Joseph encountered in Bethlehem. We must ask our leaders to remain vigilant in protecting citizens, yet we cannot abandon countless innocent people who are hungry, homeless, and displaced. This need not be an either-or choice; we can be both vigilant and compassionate. America demonstrates its true greatness not by surrendering to fear and prejudice, but by following boldly in the path of the Good Samaritan.