The Minnesota Catholic Conference plans to tackle the issue of racism with an online forum next month.

The event is called Open Wide Our Hearts: The Catholic Church Confronts Racism. Its goal is to make sure the Church upholds human dignity and encourages everyone to open their hearts during a tumultuous time in the wake of public outcry surrounding the death of George Floyd. Priests, deacons, educators and lay ecclesial ministers are invited to attend the Zoom webinar to talk about this critical issue and how the Church can respond to it.

The event is scheduled for Sept. 9, the memorial of St. Peter Claver, from 10:00 am to noon. Bishop Shelton Fabre of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux will be a featured speaker. Fabre has a number of duties within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, including holding the position of chairperson of the Subcommittee for African American Catholics.

The panel will be made up of Damon Clarke Owens, Loralean Jordan, and Lanette Turicchi. 

Owens is an international speaker and founder of Joyful Ever After, a non-profit ministry whose mission is to encourage and teach married couples to create a life together filled with joy using St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body. 

Jordan is an advocate for social justice and member of the Archdiocesan Commission of Black Catholics, where she served as chairwoman for seven years. 

Turicchi converted to Catholicism and has worked in a number capacities for the Walt Disney Company and DreamWorks. She has produced and directed projects such as The Prophet of our Time, a documentary on the last days of John Paul II's life.

The webinar is free to attend, but registration is required. Those wishing to attend can sign up online.