An Open Letter On Anti-Asian Racism & Christian Nationalism

Former Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-GA)

Former Sen. Loeffler is a Catholic, self-described "pro-life, Christian conservative," and member of Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta, GA. On July 20, 2020, Sen. Loeffler co-sponsored the "Civil Justice for Victims of Coronavirus Act" (see Senator Marsha Blackburn). On July 28, 2020, Former Sen. Loeffler co-sponsored the "Protecting America from Spies Act" (see Senator Ted Cruz). On Oct. 2, 2020, Former Sen. Loeffler tweeted, "Remember: China gave this virus to our President @realDonaldTrump and First Lady @FLOTUS. WE MUST HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE." (For more on the effects of language like this, see Senator Marsha Blackburn.) On Dec. 17, 2020, Former Sen. Loeffler tweeted that she had "taken on China for giving us this virus."


Founded in 1936, the Cathedral of Christ the King, headed by Rector Monsignor Francis G. McNamee, is the mother church for the million-member archdiocese of Atlanta. Because author Margaret Mitchell's nephew attended the church, the archdiocese owns half the trademark and literary rights to Gone With The Wind, which has come under fire for its racist depiction of Black people in both its film and book versions. The church does not feature a statement on racism on its website. However, in November 2016, it hosted a workshop titled "An Honest Look at Racism." As mentioned above, Gaudium Et Spes, one of four constitutions resulting from the Catholic Church's Second Vatican Council in 1965, includes this statement on racism: "But any kind of social or cultural discrimination in basic personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language or religion, must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design."


As of 2019, Atlanta's Asian population was 21,688. Georgia's total Asian population as of 2019 was approximately 435,785. Between March 20 and October 28, 2020, 32 hate crime incidents in Georgia were reported to Stop AAPI Hate. In April and May 2020, bronze plaques reading "Wuhan Plague" were glued onto property in Atlanta.


For information about Georgia representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene, please see the "Post-Publication Additions" page. For possible responses from Loeffler's church, consult the Timeline.