In his Arlington Catholic Herald editorial William Aitcheson says images from last week's deadly white supremacist and white nationalist rally in Charlottesville "brought back memories of a bleak period in my life that I would have preferred to forget".

He credits his faith as helping him overcome the hatred he felt as a young man.

"While 40 years have passed, I must say this: I'm sorry. To anyone who has been subjected to racism or bigotry, I am sorry. I have no excuse, but I hope you will forgive me.

"My actions were despicable. When I think back on burning crosses, a threatening letter, and so on, I feel as though I am speaking of somebody else. It's hard to believe that was me."

Aitcheson, who is 62, was ordained in 1988 after attending seminary at the North American College in Rome. He spent his early years as a priest in Nevada before becoming a permanent priest of the Diocese of Arlington in 1998.

Catholic Diocese of Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge called Aitcheson's past with the Ku Klux Klan "sad and deeply troubling".

The diocese says there have been no accusations of racism or bigotry against Aitcheson during his time at the diocese.

After ordination, he worked in Nevada before being transferred to his home town of Arlington.

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• Stuff
• CNN
• Image: LBC9News

"It really felt like every step you take could be your last," she said, later adding: "With each step, I just kept holding on to the call to love."

Talk of love was hardly the dominant narrative in Charlottesville on Saturday, when white supremacists and Nazi sympathizers organized a "Unite the Right" rally to oppose the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue in the heart of city.

Instead, media coverage has largely focused on the hateful vitriol spouted by white supremacists, as well as their violent clashes with anti-fascist protesters (often called "Antifa").

The street fights—which witnesses say occurred without adequate police intervention—left several hospitalized, and the whole event culminated in tragedy: An Ohio man who authorities say came to support the white supremacists has been charged with mowing down a group of counter-protesters with a car, wounding 19 and killing one woman.

But among the many untold stories of the harrowing day is the account of hundreds of religious leaders like Harper who descended on Charlottesville to resist white supremacy.

While images of prayerful resistance are often less eye-catching than bloody fists, spiritual protesters were still a crucial part of both the counter-protests and relief efforts.

Many stood arm-in-arm while staring down white supremacists—and plan to do it again.

Trapped in a church
The work of faith groups in Charlottesville began weeks ago. Rev. Seth Wispelwey, a United Church of Christ (UCC) minister based in the city, said local clergy started mobilizing earlier this year after the college town endured two other demonstrations by white supremacists.

The result was Congregate CVille—a group formed only five weeks ago—that called for 1,000 clergy to come and resist racism at the Unite the Right rally. Continue reading

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• ThinkProgress article by Jack M Jenkins, Senior Religion Reporter for ThinkProgress.