Misael Avila: Is it worse to be unconsciously biased, or an oblivious coward?

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia said in the wake of Charlottesville that “we need more than pious public statements” if we’re going to make progress on race relations. Unfortunately, some religious leaders are even afraid of making bold public statements denouncing racism.

Many times, as leaders, we just want to play it safe; we prefer to be prudent and “astute” as a serpent (Matthew 10:16) But what an irony that a “serpent” was also the cause of man’s downfall (Gen. 3:13).

Being prudent is sometimes just an excuse for not being courageous. We turn into passive spectators when our role is to be protagonists of change. So many injustices are taking place in front of our face and we just observe and appease our conscious by convincing ourselves we are just being prudent. Just as we can be unconsciously biased, we can also unconsciously show cowardice.

There needs to be a balance because being courageous without being prudent is being stupid; but being prudent without being courageous is being a coward.

I don’t want to judge anyone. So I would just say, if the shoe fits, wear it.

This story was originally published October 13, 2017 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Misael Avila: Is it worse to be unconsciously biased, or an oblivious coward?."