Black Catholics

[LeroyCRHP]

“As a result, Africa has the 3rd largest number of Catholics in the world, behind Latin America and Europe, respectively.” From Wiki, but I’ve read this many places.

I think as a significant majority in the church that speaks for itself. I have always found everyone in the church very welcoming. Catholics have been persecuted by many groups, even the KKK. My wife’s school in Evansville IN has a cross burned in the front of her Catholic high school around 1970.

 

[po18guy]

It has been said that the catholic Church is a white supremacy organization

Any idea who has said this? That is indeed a strange assertion, given the makeup of the worldwide church.

 

[Methodi]

Other than you, who has said this…?

well pretty much, we can see that for ourselves, just saying what is, & it has been said, cant recall by who , but something like that U dont forget

 

[po18guy]

well pretty much, we can see that for ourselves, just saying what is, & it has been said, cant recall by who , but something like that U dont forget

Well, I can assure you that, in Nigeria, where one of my recent priests was from, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where one of my current priests is from, close to 100% of members are black.

We forget when Italians and the Irish were not considered mainstream America. How times change.

An interesting anecdote: When the priest from the Congo was young, he thought that a “priest” was a white man from Europe, because, at that point, the church was still largely missionary. Not many years after, he became a priest. Praise God!

 

[Methodi]

Well, I can assure you that, in Nigeria, where one of my recent priests was from, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where one of my current priests is from, close to 100% of members are black.

We forget when Italians and the Irish were not considered mainstream America. How times change.

An interesting anecdote: When the priest from the Congo was young, he thought that a “priest” was a white man from Europe, because, at that point, the church was still largely missionary. Not many years after, he became a priest. Praise God!

I am from USA ,for many years our churches were white, basically they are still white, but there are now people from every nation attending our church, & we are getting lots of foreign priests, which is fine with me, just wish more men from this country would become priests. I see very few black people in our church, but if it were full of them, it wouldnt bother me

 

[Angels_Unaware]

I am from USA ,for many years our churches were white, basically they are still white, but there are now people from every nation attending our church, & we are getting lots of foreign priests, which is fine with me, just wish more men from this country would become priests. I see very few black people in our church, but if it were full of them, it wouldnt bother me

It would not bother me in the slightest if our churches were full of Black people, or Asian people, or people of any race. I wish our churches were full of ALL people.

 

[Apryl]

I have been told that one of our greatest saints, St. Augustine, may have been black. I dunno.

He, and his mother, Saint Monica, were from Africa.

It’s not important whether or not he was Black… but why would it be a problem if he (and they) were?

Something to think about, dontcha think?

But really, I think you know the truth here. Even if no other black person in history had entered the doors of a Catholic church, you cannot turn away, not if the Church is true.

So eloquent, and so true!

 

[Apryl]

It has been said that the catholic Church is a white supremacy organization

By who?

And who would listen to them?

Since I bet most of the people on these boards know that’s not true, we won’t repeat that, ok?

 

[po18guy]

The Lord knows what He’s doing. Right now, our priests are from Asia and Africa. That is where the majority of current vocations are being realized. What a perfect plan to reveal to us that, as with all other things, diversity came from God.

 

[Methodi]

He, and his mother, Saint Monica, were from Africa.

It’s not important whether or not he was Black… but why would it be a problem if he (and they) were?

Something to think about, dontcha think?

So eloquent, and so true!

It`s even been said that Christ may have been Black

 

[Apryl]

I am from USA ,for many years our churches were white, basically they are still white, but there are now people from every nation attending our church, & we are getting lots of foreign priests, which is fine with me, just wish more men from this country would become priests. I see very few black people in our church, but if it were full of them, it wouldnt bother me

At one time, every one in America was seen as White, based on what was on television and in the movies. All the action heroes were White men, and all the spies were White men.

I assure you: America was made up of much more than White men during that time.

And while my church and your church may not have the same people, to suggest that no Methodi exists because I don’t see you in my church would be a sad commentary on my outlook of the church and the world.

It goes far beyond my sidewalk!

 

[Methodi]

By who?

And who would listen to them?

Since I bet most of the people on these boards know that’s not true, we won’t repeat that, ok?

It has been said, so what?

 

[Apryl]

It`s even been said that Christ may have been Black

Maybe… but not by the definition of Americans!

He lived in the Middle East… so He would have had the appearance of any other Middleeasterner. Nothing to make Him stand out.

“Black” is something that seems so ultimately important in the USA, but not so important any where else, and of course, at no other time.

“… this too shall pass”

 

[Methodi]

At one time, every one in America was seen as White, based on what was on television and in the movies. All the action heroes were White men, and all the spies were White men.

I assure you: America was made up of much more than White men during that time.

And while my church and your church may not have the same people, to suggest that no Methodi exists because I don’t see you in my church would be a sad commentary on my outlook of the church and the world.

It goes far beyond my sidewalk!

I wasnt saying that, I love the way U people twist things

 

[cecilia97]

It depends some on your region. The Catholic parishes in places like Louisiana, Maryland, and around colleges have more black folks in attendance than others I’ve visited.

Our parish is 50% Hispanic. Our choir leader is a black man with an incredible opera-trained voice. I will see maybe 5 black families in attendance at most Masses. One family wears traditional African dress.

One of our deacons is 1st generation Nigerian-American. There is an elderly black woman who serves as an EMHC, too.

Africa and the Caribbean are heavily Catholic. The associate pastor at my parents’ parish is from Ghana.

I’ve never noticed anybody acting strangely about our Catholic brothers and sisters of any color or nationality at any Mass anywhere in the country. Please visit!

edited to add: The posting about the Indian Mass reminded me…recently another “Anglo” friend (that’s what we call white folks in my area) and I went to Mass at the new cathedral in downtown Houston. We didn’t realize it was the Vietnamese Mass. Not only were we the only non-Vietnamese in the building, we couldn’t understand a word we heard. It was still the Mass and we were still welcomed with warm smiles. I’ve had the same experience on vacation several times when I ended up at the local Spanish-language Mass out of necessity.

 

[cecilia97]

Wow, thanks everyone. Everyone here at the forum has been so warm and welcoming. I can’t believe so many people replied to my message. I thought I’d be lucky if five people answered.

I just wanted to let everyone know that this Sunday will be my fourth Sunday at the nearby Catholic Church and things are going much better than I expected. Everyone was really nice. This one women even came up and told me I was *so pretty *and I think she even hugged me but I was so shocked that I don’t exactly remember. There was another woman their who sat next to me and helped me through the first mass and then the second mass…she took me back to the children’s church and gave me a little book called the Mass for Children which was extremely helpful. Everyone here and at the church is so kind. I can’t believe I was even scared to set foot into the church. In fact, the first day it took me ten to fifteen minutes to even get out of the car. I’m sure people were wondering why I was just sitting their on the passenger side looking at everyone.

And there were quite a few people their of different colors.

Thanks everyone

Thanks be to God! I’m so glad you are visiting and that you’ve felt welcomed.

 

[JPUSC]

God and His Church obviously have no racial boundaries.

In the Church-approved apparitions of Our Lady of Kibeho, Rwanda, the Virgin Mary appeared with the features of the local people.

http://www.ssmn-e.com/New%20Folder/NotreDamedeKibeho.jpghttp://www.nationalshrine.com/atf/cf/{3B17C6B3-18AB-4C42-BFF7-C6F9BCE8CAC6}/VT%20CC%20-%20African%20Christ.jpg

Africa has the 3rd largest number of Catholics in the world. There are 135,600,000 Catholics of the 809,105,000 residents in Africa. While in the U.S., many African-Americans belong to Protestant groups, that is not the norm in the rest of the world.

The Catholic Church is universal and for the whole world.

http://www.mh2.dds.nl/fotos/mc.jpgh...ewsletters/2000-Sep-Oct/Our-Lady-of-China.jpg
http://dwinger.files.wordpress.com/.../albums/gg190/Miraculousicons/Czestochowa.jpg

 

[Apryl]

The Catholic Church is universal and for the whole world.

Wow!

Those images are gorgeous. I don’t think I had ever seen the ‘Our Lady of China’

As a child, I was taught so much about racial diversity and racial respect that it amazes me to learn that others have had problems in the church. But it happens.

People from outside of the church come in with some of the issues from outside. We can just pray for them, and for our reaction to them and their issues

 

[Hislittlelady]

Originally Posted by Malia Belen
Wow, thanks everyone. Everyone here at the forum has been so warm and welcoming. I can’t believe so many people replied to my message. I thought I’d be lucky if five people answered.

I just wanted to let everyone know that this Sunday will be my fourth Sunday at the nearby Catholic Church and things are going much better than I expected. Everyone was really nice. This one women even came up and told me I was so pretty and I think she even hugged me but I was so shocked that I don’t exactly remember. There was another woman their who sat next to me and helped me through the first mass and then the second mass…she took me back to the children’s church and gave me a little book called the Mass for Children which was extremely helpful. Everyone here and at the church is so kind. I can’t believe I was even scared to set foot into the church. In fact, the first day it took me ten to fifteen minutes to even get out of the car. I’m sure people were wondering why I was just sitting their on the passenger side looking at everyone.

And there were quite a few people their of different colors.

Malia, this is just breaking my heart to hear that something like this should even come up as a topic. What kind of Christians would entertain bigotry, especially in church. If a person is in church kneeling in prayer, and this includes way back to the old days in the South, what were these white people thinking while they prayed to God to treat someone of a different color skin as if they didn’t belong to God also. What a huge mortal sin that is.

I’m not unaware of the hatred in this world, but still get shocked at what people do to other people in regard to skin color or cultural background.

My church is predominantly Hispanic and I love it. I’m am a white American of Italian heritage but I’m born American. I had a recent experience which I discussed on the Catholic/non-Catholic board about a persecution I recently suffered while attending my grandson’s play in a Christian Church which was not Catholic and I never knew what persecution felt like till then. I never realized how hated Catholics were. My heart felt crushed and I wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground, that’s how unwanted and unloved I felt.

That taught me a very good lesson. It made me fully understand what black people, Jewish people, among others, what real bigotry feels like. It was horrible and I cried. Now I know what black people have always gone through and what they still continue to go through on this earth. It’s just the evil in the human nature that causes some to be filled with such hate. God is not happy I promise you this. They will one day all be before the Throne of the Lord and He will want to know why all these Christians persecuted the children of God that HE MADE in all different colors. Lord have mercy on us.

So my dear sister in the Lord, I hope you will become a Catholic and I pray that you will find the fulfillment of the Christian faith in our church, but no matter which way you decide, never forget for one moment that YOU ARE GOD’S CHILD that he made so special, to His own specification, with beautiful brown skin, as so many others have white skin, yellow skin or red skin. I find the best way to keep everything is perspective is to ask “I wonder what color God is?” I rest my case!

Prayers and blessings to you friend and may you make the right decision for yourself in your walk of faith. Welcome to our church and our faith and may you one day call it your home.

Blessings to everyone

:coffeeread: :winter: :snowing: :hug1:

 

[ForMary]

It has been said that the catholic Church is a white supremacy organization

But Jesus wasn’t white.

…sigh…

Methodi, this is simply an example of how you could slip in an agenda while copping out that it is you who stand behind it…“It has been said…” is pretty vague.

Many things have been said…your point would be…what?