Black Catholics?

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WillPhillips

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I’m looking to understand (American) Black Catholics views (given the low percentage of support).

If you’re Black, why do you support the Catholic Church? And if you’re comfortable answering, why do you think so few Black Americans are Catholic?
 
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Perhaps this would better fit in the non-Catholic religions forum. But genuinely looking for Black perspectives.
 
I always figured that parish percentages reflected local area percentages in general. I could be wrong. In either case you mind want to back your premise with some data.
WillPhillips said:
If you’re Black, why do you support the Catholic Church?
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I might be going out on a limb here but, perhaps for the same reason a White person would, because she possesses the fullness of truth???
 
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I was asking Black people specifically, but thanks for your response.

Do you not think Black Americans are significantly under-represented in the Catholic Church? (Seems to me this is readily available information…I can post some links if you want)
 
WillPhillips said:
I’m looking to understand (American) Black Catholics views (given the low percentage of support).

If you’re Black, why do you support the Catholic Church? And if you’re comfortable answering, why do you think so few Black Americans are Catholic?
Click to expand...
I saw a documentary that said that most of the slaves brought to America were from traditional African religions and about 30% were Muslim. They were mostly forced into the Protestant religion of their masters. It sounded all so cruel. They were prohibited from incorporating their traditional music and dance into their Christian worship and would be whipped for it.
 
What’s with the preoccupation with black representation in the Church? It’s not like the Church has diversity quotas. Anyone who wants to come can come.

Anyway, I’m Polish, not black, but the reason why there are comparatively fewer African American Catholics probably has to do with the role of black churches and spirituality in African American culture and history. But, things change when you through black immigrant groups into the mix. In my old college town, there was not an insignificant Haitian population, so I saw a lot more black Catholics than at my hometown parish. They even had one Mass in French to cater to that population.
 
Motherwit said:
…They were mostly forced into the Protestant religion of their masters. It sounded all so cruel…
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I was asking for Black perspectives here, but yes, American cruelty to Black people is undeniable.

Why do you think so few Black Americans are Catholic?
 
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There is no need to be so dismissive of people who take the time to write a thoughtful response to your thread.
 
I’m looking for responses to theses questions, as posted in my OP.

If you’re Black, why do you support the Catholic Church?

And if you’re comfortable answering, why do you think so few Black Americans are Catholic?
 
It doesn’t address the OP’s highly specific question (seeking as he is only responses from those who are both black and American)

but I’ll just drop this link here. Seems relevant to me.


Only 8% of all Catholics live in America to begin with.

16% of all Catholics live in sub-Saharan Africa.

So before anything else, focusing in on the ‘American Catholic’ experience would give a person an incredibly tiny and limited idea of what Catholicism is and who’s attracted to it and why. But if you do want to delve into that (which will presumably go into the history of immigration trends etc, and undoubtably involve a lot of consideration of the Latino experience), have fun.
 
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MNathaniel said:
It doesn’t address the OP’s highly specific question…
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Why would you post something that doesn’t address my question…

From your article,
“Pew Research study found Catholics comprise about 16% of the total global population.“

Yes, I’m not asking about the global population of Catholics. I’m asking about American Catholics.
 
Meh, I’d let it go on for a few dozen more posts to see what happens.
 
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