Black Catholics

[Beau_Ouiville]

I truly wonder why so few black Americans are Roman Catholics. Other than the fact that most slave owners were not Catholic, I’m not sure I understand why American Catholicism does not have more black adherents.

 

[Ahimsa]

…I’m not sure I understand why American Catholicism does not have more black adherents.

Almost all slaves (except those in southern Louisiana) worshiped within a Protestant (Baptist; Methodist; Presbyterian, even) environment. The slaves took the Christianity of the slave master, but changed it and made it their own.

 

[Dempsey1919]

When I was in New York, I saw many African American Catholics in the Churches. Also, there are a lot of African Catholics. In fact, we could one day have an African Pope.

 

[maurin]

There is a book, written by Cyprian Davis, “A History of Black Catholics in the United States.”

I read it almost 10 years ago. It might be an interesting read for you.

It is on Amazon.com, used, I think, for about 6 dollars.

Maybe it will help?

 

[Paul_Folbrecht]

My wife & I were in Denver a couple years ago on a weekend trip. We picked a nearby parish out of the phone book for Sunday Mass. We got there and discovered we were the only white folks out of 200+ people except for one old gent who slept through the sermon.

It was one of the coolest (NO) Masses we’ve been to. It lasted at least an hour and a half because the sermon was 45m - and it was fiery and inspirational, almost, yes, in a “P” style, but quite orthodox.

 

[thistle]

When I was in New York, I saw many African American Catholics in the Churches. Also, there are a lot of African Catholics. In fact, we could one day have an African Pope.

That’s true. Catholicism is growing faster in Africa than most other places.

 

[brotherhrolf]

Come to south Louisiana. We have numerous completely African-American parishes and most of the rest of the parishes have African Americans as members. The Marsalis family (e.g. Wynton, Bradford et al) were fellow parishoners when I was growing up in New Orleans.

I’m not certain about the slavery issue insofar as it pertains to Louisiana. Our “Code Noir” gave slaves freedom of religion. Many chose Catholicism but not all. There are large vibrant African American parishes/mixed parishes across Catholic south Louisiana as well as a whole bunch of Baptist churches - sounds like a dissertation topic to me.

 

[Karmastrike]

I read some where that at least 70 some % of African-Americans are liberal; might add to it.

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

I read some where that at least 70 some % of African-Americans are liberal; might add to it.

I kind of doubt it. My family is from New Iberia, LA and is black and Catholic. And steadfast liberal!

My question concerned why the missionary movement really did not reach out more to black folks in the US. It may be because in the early US history religion was so striated along ethnic lines.

I am also tired of hearing people say that 10 am on Sundays is the most segregated time in most people’s lives. My parish is about 30% black Americans, 10% Africans, 30% white, 20% Hispanic and 10% Indians. That’s real diversity. And I know of another parish which is similarly mixed.

 

[PatThePoet]

“70% of blacks are liberal”

substantiate this statistic please.

as if every Catholic on planet Earth is a “conservative” in American political terms.

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

Many are usually Baptist or Protestant, even Muslim.

I’m half African American, I ended up being Catholic through my mother’s side (Mexican).

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

I think it has to do with ancestry and/or history. Why are many English Protestant, while Irish are Catholic? I think it has everything to do with the slave trade of the south. If we look at certain African nations, some like Nigeria have diverse Christian populations, so the south is not the only answer.

I think what is interesting are conversions of African Americans to Catholicism. Most memorable to me was the case of Alex Jones who went from Protestant Preacher to Catholic Deacon - with a good chunk of his congregation.

Also important to note is that like anybody, black Catholics exist in every kind of Catholic community from urban with an Afro-centric flare to charismatic, and the most traditional. There have been a small number of blacks in every parish to which I have belonged and that includes the very traditional Assumption Grotto. I think this shows that traditional Catholicism truly transcends race and age. It has nothing to do with race or age, but a state of mind and a desire to celebrate the liturgy in a reserved manner, rather than in an outgoing way as may be typically seen in urban parishes.

Interesting topic. I’d like to hear from blacks on the forum.

 

[Jennifer_G]

When I was in New York, I saw many African American Catholics in the Churches. Also, there are a lot of African Catholics. In fact, we could one day have an African Pope.

Technically, there have been 3 African popes already. But, that was Carthagian “African” (southern Medditeraian - geographically speaking) - I don’t think they were ethnically African.

Now, I’ve noticed that maybe less than 1% of parishoners are of African descent (both in my old Lutheran church, and my current parish). We also have an African priest from Cameroon. (people just love his accent)

 

[Highwayhound]

It never occurred to me that skin pigment has anything to do with being Catholic.

 

[LDNCatholic]

Amen.

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

Hmmm…

Did you know that:

There are black men alive today denied admission to Notre Dame because it did not admit blacks?

There was a special auxiliary of the Klan which admitted Catholics and which attacked black demonstrators in St. Augustine in 1963?

There are priestly orders which did not admit black applicants on principle until the end of the sixties?

Cardinal Spellman urged Pope Paul XI not to meet with MLK at the urging of J. Edgar Hoover? (The pope met with him anyway.)

During the Civil War a black orphanage in NYC was set on fire by Catholic rioters, the doors nailed shut and anyone trying to get out the windows was shot?

Catholicism is color blind but I’m not sure about all Catholics always.

 

[Matt33]

It never occurred to me that skin pigment has anything to do with being Catholic.

Im not sure what you mean but there is an obvious relation… (I feel like that episode of seinfield “should we be talking about this?”) Per capita there are more or less catholics with certain skin colors. Chinese would be a different percentage than hispanic, Middle eastern than Italian. Perhaps you were taking the ever so popular " I am color blind" route but that isn’t realistic in this conversation.
This original post had something to do with American ethnicity rather than african. So the question can be looked at as a racial thing but answered quit best when looked at in the light of race religion in the history of our nation. If one does not understand the south, the north, slavery and what role religion played in the lives of african american history then the context is lost.

 

[JReducation]

Im not sure what you mean but there is an obvious relation… (I feel like that episode of seinfield “should we be talking about this?”) Per capita there are more or less catholics with certain skin colors. Chinese would be a different percentage than hispanic, Middle eastern than Italian. Perhaps you were taking the ever so popular " I am color blind" route but that isn’t realistic in this conversation.
This original post had something to do with American ethnicity rather than african. So the question can be looked at as a racial thing but answered quit best when looked at in the light of race religion in the history of our nation. If one does not understand the south, the north, slavery and what role religion played in the lives of african american history then the context is lost.

I’m going to piggy-back on what you’re saying. The question is really about Catholicism in the United States.

In South America, the Caribbean and Africa there are millions of Black people who are Catholic. It’s also important to note that Catholicism is not new to Africa. It goes back to the age of the early Fathers. St. Augustine had a white fahter (Roman) and black mother (St. Monica). He was mulato and African born. His son was black. St. Martin de Porres was born in Peru of a Black Puerto Rican mother and a White Spanish father.

The low number Black Catholics in the USA speaks more about the politics and history of the USA than it does about Catholicism.

Fraternally,

JR

 

[Highwayhound]

Perhaps you were taking the ever so** popular " I am color blind"** route but that isn’t realistic in this conversation.

Matt33 I will pass your compliment on to my mom. If I am amongst those that hold a popular stance it is due to her and how she raised her children.

When you stated the question - should we even be talking about this? That is close to my original thought.

You also state that it is not realistic in the conversation. What do you see as being realistic in this matter and why?

The original question was:

…I’m not sure I understand why American catholicism does not have more black adherents?

My questions would be minus the adjectives ‘American’ and ‘black’?

I will interested to read your thoughts as your first post got me thinking.

 

[lak611]

I truly wonder why so few black Americans are Roman Catholics. Other than the fact that most slave owners were not Catholic, I’m not sure I understand why American Catholicism does not have more black adherents.

That is a good question. I do not know the answer, but I do see this to be true at least where I live.

The inner city and older suburbs of Cleveland have undergone major changes in demographics. There are a lot of Catholic parishes that are closing, since the white people (of Irish, Italian, Polish, etc. backgrounds) have left the area. The black residents who have moved into those neighborhoods are, for the most part, not Catholic.

However, the neighborhoods that used to be predominantly white but are now predominantly Hispanic have thriving parishes, because most Hispanics are Catholic.