THEME: The morning after the events on Capitol Hill on 6th January 2021, American faith leaders and scholars, deeply shocked and traumatised by witnessing Trump supporters lay siege to Capitol Hill, explain how the events are a legacy to Christian white supremacy in the States.
Shock after the storming of the Capitol is leading to soul searching questions on the values of America, the racial divide, and the manipulation of Catholics and evangelicals into an unholy alliance. They try to understand how Catholics and evangelicals have been swept up in a movement which threatens democracy. In this Religion Media Centre briefing, Rosie Dawson, Ruth Peacock and Andrew Brown question a number of commentators on how America came to this and how it may be healed – with guests:
Mariann Budde: Episcopal bishop of Washington
Robert P Jones: Founder & CEO of PRRI
Rev Winnie Varghese: Priest and Chief Justice and Reconciliation Officer at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City, blogger for the Huffington Post; author of Church Meets World; editor of What We Shall Become; and author of numerous articles and chapters on social justice and the church
Rev Broderick Greer: Canon precentor for St Johns Cathedral in Denver, Colorado
Dr Andrea Hatcher: Professor of Politics, Sewanee: The University of the South, who has written about Political and Religious Identities of British Evangelicals and took part in a zoom on the differences between UK and US evangelicals
Chine McDonald: writer and broadcaster on issues of race and faith, a regular presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day and head of public engagement at international development agency Christian Aid
Joseph Uscinski: Associate professor department of political science at Miami University, who researches conspiracy theories including QAnon
Mike Lewis: Managing editor of the website Where Peter Is. Previously, he worked for Catholic Climate Covenant and the communications department of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
REPORT: Insurrection on Capitol Hill
“to move forward, the US needs to confront its “original sin of racism and white supremacy. We’ve now seen on our screens what this looks like. but as with George Floyd’s death, we cannot un-see it””
– Chine Macdonald
FULL BRIEFING YOUTUBE VIDEO
We live tweet our briefings with direct quotes from guests – see below for links on @relmedcentre:
