Like his sister and their parents, Donald and Valerie, Carter emphasized the need for an honest evaluation of racial tensions in the light of Christian faith.
"I felt it was important to be (at the protests), and as a black male to express how I felt," he said, adding that even amid its tragic consequences, the gathering showed "how many people are part of this movement and really do care."
For the Carter family, all of whom are St. Athanasius parishioners, and for others in the archdiocese, racism has hit home.
As a 12-year-old, Donovan Carter was frisked by police while walking down the street from his home to purchase a snack. He said the experience taught him that such encounters easily could "become one of your last seconds on earth."
His father Donald said the entire family was once "targeted by a police officer" and was pulled over while driving to a store.
His children "got to see how we handled it," said the elder Carter, an operational manager for a local bank and a member of the Knights of St. Peter Claver, the country's largest African-American lay Catholic organization.
Noting that he had been frisked at an even younger age than his son and had experienced racism throughout his 30-year career, Donald Carter said it was "frustrating" that "things haven't changed" since his own childhood.
"You always hope your children wouldn't have to experience the same ugliness and hate that you did," he said.
His wife Valerie said that "as the mother of an African American male, it is stressful as (her son) leaves the house."
"Over the years, we have seen things happen," she said. "I want to think that it's not going to be bad as the last riot or unrest, but each time it seems worse."
John Wilson, a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Doylestown, said he'd been forced to have a "tragic but necessary conversation" with his own son, instructing him to "give police nothing to be concerned about" should he ever be detained by law enforcement.
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At the same time, like all of those with whom CatholicPhilly spoke, Wilson – who counts several police officers as friends – underlined that law enforcement personnel should not be targeted for violence, and that their efforts to preserve order and safety deserve support.
"I'm well aware of how difficult it must be to be a police officer," said Wilson, noting that he and his friends "don't shy away from talking about this (issue)."
Wilson, who leads a men's Bible study group, said that such honesty and the willingness to listen to others are key to dismantling racism and healing its wounds, as is the active participation of the entire church.
"You can't be a passenger in this," said Wilson. "Christianity is not a spectator event, and the work needs to be done by us."
Father Thorne agreed, noting that "no one is exempt from this conversation," which should begin with a deeper understanding of the roots of racism.
"This issue is about eternal life; this is about the God I serve," he said.