A pastoral challenge
By Declan McSweeney
In the light of VOX magazine’s recent research into racism and inclusion, Declan McSweeney challenges churches in Ireland to care for the needs of mixed-race couples.
As Ireland becomes more multi-ethnic, an increasing number of couples are where one is white and Irish-born and the other is either an immigrant or the son or daughter of migrants. I refer here not so much to white migrants from eastern Europe but to those of a different skin colour, whether from Africa, Asia or Latin America, and primarily to those who are Christians - interfaith marriage is a separate issue.
The racism such couples often encounter is well described here: ‘They called here a n***er lover’
However, this is not an entirely new issue, as the many mixed race Irish reared in children's homes can describe. Such racism, particularly when it comes from the extended family of the white partner, can cause enormous damage to mental health.
As one with personal knowledge of all this, I would plead with the churches to take this issue seriously. This means firstly being aware of the matter and realising that such couples often face additional pressures to those where both are white or both black.
On the other hand, many such couples get on well in their neighbourhoods, and the key issue is how the white family responds to the black or brown or yellow partner. I would urge you to have an insight into what it's like to be a stranger who feels unwelcome in a town, blamed for everything that goes wrong in your spouse's life even when it's down to economic circumstances or other factors, the acute damage to mental health, etc.
As far as clergy are concerned, this means listening to and getting to know the new arrival, and understanding why they may find the environment difficult. In extreme cases, as I can describe from personal experience, it means having to move away from Ireland, but that should be a last resort, and I would hope clergy could help to see if there are other options.
It may mean, to put it bluntly, confronting the white partner's family of origin and bluntly asking them how they reconcile their racism with their faith. Given that the black or Asian partner may be of another Christian denomination, there is very much an ecumenical dimension, with a need for co-operation between denominations, including the Pentecostal churches.
This is an area where there is major scope for co-operation between all the churches - Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist, Pentecostal, Orthodox, etc.
I have often said that a pastor's priority, in interchurch situations (whether both white or not) should be to get to know the spouse who is NOT of their church, without trying to convert them, but to work in conjunction with the other church to give the support needed to the couple. I just feel that some clergy don't grasp how racism affects such couples.
Declan McSweeney has worked as a journalist in both Ireland and England, including over 18 years with the now-closed Offaly Express. His wife is an Irish citizen who was originally from Nigeria.