Black and Catholic in the U.S

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The Seattle Archdiocese magazine, Northwest CATHOLIC, has come a long way from the, ummm, well the Archdiocesan news paper of the past. Here is a good example of what is featured in the latest issue that I wanted to share.

: Black and Catholic in the U.S. nwcatholic.org/features/nw-stories/black-and-catholic-in-archdiocese-of-seattle

War veteran, **Cpl. Clayton Pitre **, who was featured in the Northwest CATHOLIC magazine, raised the 12th man flag at the Seattle Seahawks game. Video Interview: seahawks.com/video/2015/11/15/12-flag-raiser-clayton-pitre-interview
 
I have a TON of respect and love for black Catholics. I believe the African (and African American) Catholic will save us from heresy.

However, I want to note one issue I have with this article. The Universal Catholic Church did NOT have a race issue. The Church in America(s) did.

When no American seminary would accept a black seminarian, the Pope did in Rome.
 
phil19034 said:
I have a TON of respect and love for black Catholics. I believe the African (and African American) Catholic will save us from heresy.

However, I want to note one issue I have with this article. The Universal Catholic Church did NOT have a race issue. The Church in America(s) did.

When no American seminary would accept a black seminarian, the Pope did in Rome.
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I’ve always wondered aout that. how did it happen?i know the pope condemned it but it seems like no one was listening, or at least, very few people

and how would anyone know any better if even the leadership was acting in this manner? if kids are taught by their parents to be racist, well, they will, same for what the average catholic is taught by their priest
 
angell1 said:
I’ve always wondered aout that. how did it happen?i know the pope condemned it but it seems like no one was listening, or at least, very few people

and how would anyone know any better if even the leadership was acting in this manner? if kids are taught by their parents to be racist, well, they will, same for what the average catholic is taught by their priest
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From what I’ve read, there were a few different issues going on in North America at that time:

(1) the heresy of Americanism where Bishops and priests didn’t want to listen to Rome because they didn’t want to be seen as an Immigrant Church. Allowing a black priest to preach to white people would not have been considered “American” back then because it would be counter-cultural. The Americanism heresy’s goal was to secularize the Church in America (and this started in the 1850s, if not before).

(2) some, if not most, seminaries were afraid of what the laity and non-Catholics would do if an African American was allowed in the seminary.

(3) some Bishops and priests were actually racist.
 
A few years ago, I watched a series of videos that someone produced about the Catholic Churches in New York. One of those videos was about St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Brooklyn, that has many beautiful old paintings and has some history regarding Black Catholics in America. It was a beautiful video. Too bad that series is no longer available on YouTube. Sometimes I think it would be great to plan a pilgrimage to various historical Catholic Churches in America. Anyway, I went to St. Peter Claver website and they have a little history posted about their parish: stmartindeporresparish.org/spc_history.htm
 
phil19034 said:
From what I’ve read, there were a few different issues going on in North America at that time:

(1) the heresy of Americanism where Bishops and priests didn’t want to listen to Rome because they didn’t want to be seen as an Immigrant Church. Allowing a black priest to preach to white people would not have been considered “American” back then because it would be counter-cultural. The Americanism heresy’s goal was to secularize the Church in America (and this started in the 1850s, if not before).

yeah, I get what you mean, I think this is probably the biggest issue, which is totally absurd of an idea in the first place. besides the fact that they really were all immigrants…

(2) some, if not most, seminaries were afraid of what the laity and non-Catholics would do if an African American was allowed in the seminary.

well if the leadership teaches properly, the laity would learn properly, hence do nothing. as for non-catholics, what did it matter what they thought?

(3) some Bishops and priests were actually racist.
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yes, unfortunately, also true

I supposed not too much has change, there is still a lot of racism in the world. even though there’s actually no such thing as race, as we like to use the term. we descended from the same 2 individuals, all one species. different ethnicities, yes, but just like other creatures that come in different types or sizes.

it all just became very political
 
phil19034 said:
I have a TON of respect and love for black Catholics. I believe the African (and African American) Catholic will save us from heresy.

However, I want to note one issue I have with this article. The Universal Catholic Church did NOT have a race issue. The Church in America(s) did.

When no American seminary would accept a black seminarian, the Pope did in Rome.
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Interesting background/historical note I’ve never read about as far as American seminarians, certainly agree with your points. Seems to be the true facts of American history are slowly being cleared up. The Civil War not being all about slavery wasn’t taught when I was a kid. Robert E. Lee having a picture of the Pope, that was a new one as well. Wonder what else the future will reveal about historical American Catholicism 🙂
 
zab said:
The Seattle Archdiocese magazine, Northwest CATHOLIC, has come a long way from the, ummm, well the Archdiocesan news paper of the past. Here is a good example of what is featured in the latest issue that I wanted to share.

: Black and Catholic in the U.S. nwcatholic.org/features/nw-stories/black-and-catholic-in-archdiocese-of-seattle

War veteran, **Cpl. Clayton Pitre **, who was featured in the Northwest CATHOLIC magazine, raised the 12th man flag at the Seattle Seahawks game. Video Interview: seahawks.com/video/2015/11/15/12-flag-raiser-clayton-pitre-interview
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What was the news paper of the past like? I’m too young to know about this.
 
zab said:
The Seattle Archdiocese magazine, Northwest CATHOLIC, has come a long way from the, ummm, well the Archdiocesan news paper of the past. Here is a good example of what is featured in the latest issue that I wanted to share.

: Black and Catholic in the U.S. nwcatholic.org/features/nw-stories/black-and-catholic-in-archdiocese-of-seattle

War veteran, **Cpl. Clayton Pitre **, who was featured in the Northwest CATHOLIC magazine, raised the 12th man flag at the Seattle Seahawks game. Video Interview: seahawks.com/video/2015/11/15/12-flag-raiser-clayton-pitre-interview
Click to expand...
interesting article. thanks for posting this. I wish we could evangelize more among african-americans.
 
An excellent book- From Slave to Priest, tells the story of Augustus Tolton and gives a glimpse into the beginnings of Catholicism in the Black community here in the US.

It’s a great read.
 
ringil said:
An excellent book- From Slave to Priest, tells the story of Augustus Tolton and gives a glimpse into the beginnings of Catholicism in the Black community here in the US.

It’s a great read.
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I had never heard of this priest until now.
 
phil19034 said:
I have a TON of respect and love for black Catholics. I believe the African (and African American) Catholic will save us from heresy.
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I agree with you whole heartily. I love to see black people -African American or Native African- in Church. I hope its a trend that continues upward because like you, I think the African American community has a lot to offer the Church. In my personal experience, they tend to be spiritual people and a high level of devotion. It’s something the Church desperately needs right now.
 
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