Michael Brooks
The religious beliefs of Native Americans have been a topic of interest for many years, with some sources estimating that around 20% of Native Americans identify as Catholic. This proportion varies depending on the tribe, with some tribes having a much higher percentage of Catholics than others. The history of Catholic missionaries in Native American communities is complex and often linked to colonisation, oppression, and the decline of indigenous culture. Despite this, many Native Americans have embraced the Catholic Church while still valuing their indigenous heritage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Native Americans who identify as Catholic | 20-25% |
| Number of US parishes serving congregations that are primarily Native American | 101 |
| Number of US dioceses with an office or program geared to Catholic Natives | 30% |
| Number of Americans whose primary race is given as Native American or Alaska Native | 2.9 million |
| Number of Americans claiming some degree of Native American ancestry | 1.6 million |
| Number of Americans identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native | 5 million |
| Percentage of Native Americans who believe in God | 87% |
| Percentage of Native Americans who describe themselves as "religious" or "somewhat religious" | 77% |
| Percentage of Native Americans residing in households with congregational membership | 46% |
| Percentage of Native Americans who identify as having "no religion" | 19% |
| Percentage of Native Americans participating in Christian traditions at least sometimes | 66% |
| Percentage of Pueblo tribe of New Mexico who are Catholic | 75% |
| Percentage of Navajo tribe who are Catholic | 3% |
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What You'll Learn
Native Americans and the Catholic Church's history of abuse
While the Catholic Church has a long history of interaction with Native Americans, its legacy is fraught with abuse and mistreatment.
The arrival of European colonists in the Americas had devastating consequences for the indigenous peoples. The Spanish Conquistadors, for example, demolished the Meso-American cultures of the Aztecs and the Andean Incas. The Catholic Church was not separate from these colonial powers; in fact, most expeditions were accompanied by priests and missionaries. However, it is important to note that the Church did show concern for the plight of Native Americans, and missionaries were often punished for speaking out against the injustices inflicted upon them.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the Catholic Church in America actively participated in the federal government's conquest and colonization of Native Americans. Numerous bishops and priests collaborated with federal officials and Protestant groups in a shared project of forced assimilation. This included the involuntary placement of Native American children in boarding schools, where widespread sexual abuse occurred. A Washington Post investigation revealed the abuse of generations of children at these institutions, with most of the abuse occurring in the 1950s and 1960s and involving 1,000 children. The impact of this abuse has been long-lasting, with many survivors only understanding and feeling comfortable speaking out about their experiences as adults.
The Catholic Church's involvement in the boarding school system was part of a broader effort to gain mainstream acceptance in America. This desire for assimilation extended to the treatment of Native Americans within the Church as well. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, clerics and prelates within the U.S. Catholic Church erected figurative borders within their parishes to separate American-born white Catholics from new European immigrants. This contributed to a history of discrimination and abuse against Native Americans within the Church.
Despite these injustices, it is important to acknowledge the resilience of Native American Catholics. While estimates vary, approximately 20-25% of Native Americans identified as Catholic in 2008, and the Catholic Church maintains a significant presence within Native American communities. Native Americans have embraced the Catholic faith while still valuing their indigenous heritage, and their diverse cultures have influenced the expression of Catholicism in unique ways.
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Catholic missionaries and colonisation
The history of the Catholic Church and its missionaries in the colonisation of the Americas is a complex and contentious topic. The Church and its missionaries were involved in the colonial efforts of European powers, and their actions had a significant impact on the indigenous peoples of the Americas, including the Native Americans.
During the Age of Discovery, the Catholic Church launched a major effort to spread Christianity in the New World and convert the indigenous peoples. This missionary work was closely tied to the colonial efforts of European powers such as Spain, France, and Portugal, who saw religious expansion as synonymous with territorial expansion. The Vatican decreed that the Spaniards were to convert their New World indigenous subjects to Catholicism. As such, Catholic missionaries accompanied colonists to the Americas and were active participants in the colonial project.
The methods and outcomes of the Catholic missionary efforts in the Americas varied. While some missionaries were driven by a genuine desire to share their faith, others were complicit in the exploitation and oppression of indigenous peoples. The integration of Catholicism into indigenous beliefs and practices was often questionably successful, as the indigenous people blended Catholicism with their traditional ceremonies and beliefs. For example, the Spaniards altered the Andean religion of the Incas to align more with Catholic teachings. On the other hand, the Catholic Church and its missionaries also spoke out against the mistreatment and exploitation of indigenous peoples by colonial powers. The Jesuits, Franciscans, Augustinians, and many priests, nuns, and laypeople were punished for defending the rights of the indigenous peoples. Figures like Bartolomé de las Casas, the Jesuit missionary Pierre-Jean de Smet, the Franciscan missionary Anselm Weber and Benjamin Petit, and St. Rose Philippine Duschesne are remembered for their defence of Indian rights and their opposition to the cruelty and inhumane treatment inflicted upon them.
The legacy of Catholic colonisation and missionary work in the Americas is a contentious issue. While some acknowledge the positive contributions of the Church and its missionaries, others highlight the negative impacts and the role they played in the decimation of native populations and the decline of indigenous cultures. Today, the presence of the Catholic Church within Native American communities remains significant, with an estimated 20% of Native Americans identifying as Catholic. However, Native American Catholic communities continue to struggle with institutional disaffiliation, high rates of poverty, and a contentious relationship with the Church due to historical abuses and injustices.
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Catholic Native Americans' attendance at Mass
Native Americans have a long and complex history with the Catholic Church. While the Church played a role in the colonisation of the Americas and the oppression of indigenous peoples, there were also Catholic missionaries who defended Native American rights and spoke out against their mistreatment. Today, it is estimated that around 20-25% of Native Americans identify as Catholic. The percentage varies greatly depending on the tribe, with some tribes, such as the Pueblo of New Mexico, having a much higher percentage of Catholics than others, such as the Navajo tribe.
Native American Catholics face unique challenges, including high rates of poverty, substance abuse, unemployment, and suicide. They also struggle with institutional disaffiliation, especially among young people, and have low rates of registration in Catholic schools. However, Native American Catholics are active in their parishes, with about a third involved in ministries. Many Native American Catholics incorporate traditional Native practices and beliefs into their Catholic faith, finding common ground in the value of living peacefully with God, their neighbours, and the environment.
Native American Catholics' Catholic life mostly involves attending Mass. In 2020, 400 Native Americans gathered for Mass in Montana, incorporating Native traditions into the service. This Mass was held in the only Catholic Church in town, Little Flower Parish, which is served by the Catholic Extension Society. The Society has supported Native American ministries in the area since 1973 and has been providing grants to the Diocese of Helena since 1911. The diocese now covers more than 50,000 square miles, almost double the size of Ireland, and continues to serve the Catholic Native American community.
While the Catholic Church's presence within Native American communities is significant, Native Americans make up a small percentage of the overall Catholic population in America. Only seven dioceses report that Native Americans constitute more than 5% of their Catholic population, with most reporting less than 1%. This disparity highlights the need for continued bridge-building and cultural competency in Native American ministry, as recognised by the US bishops in 2019.
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Catholic Church's role in defending Native Americans
The Catholic Church has had a complex relationship with Native Americans, with a history that includes both defence and criticism. On the one hand, Catholic missionaries have been credited with heroically defending Native Americans' rights and denouncing their mistreatment by colonial powers. On the other hand, the Church has also been accused of participating in the colonisation and assimilation of Native American communities, contributing to the disruption of their traditional cultures and societies.
Defending Native Americans' Rights
Some Catholic figures have been outspoken in their defence of Native Americans' rights and well-being. For example, during the American Revolutionary War, Fr. Benjamin Petit marched alongside the Potowatomi nation, providing spiritual support and consoling those who had been forcibly removed from their lands. Similarly, Fr. Sebastian Rale served the Abenaki people for decades, even as the British put a price on his head, and the Abenaki remained committed to the Catholic faith.
In addition, Catholic missionaries such as the Jesuit Pierre-Jean de Smet, the Franciscan Anselm Weber, and St. Rose Philippine Duchesne are known for their dedication to Native American communities and their efforts to protect indigenous cultures. The early encounter between Native Americans and Europeans was acknowledged by Pope John Paul II in 1987 as a "harsh and painful reality" for Native Americans, and he recognised the work of missionaries who defended the rights of indigenous peoples.
Criticism and Colonisation
However, the Catholic Church has also faced criticism for its role in the colonisation and assimilation of Native American communities. Catholic parishes have been accused of actively participating in the federal government's conquest and forced assimilation of Native Americans, including family separations and the placement of children in abusive boarding schools. The Church's efforts to gain mainstream acceptance in America during the 19th and 20th centuries may have contributed to this complicity.
Furthermore, while some Catholic missionaries may have had spiritually pure motives, their writings during this period reveal a colonising impulse. For example, Jesuit priest Lawrence Benedict Palladino argued that the Catholic Church was essential for the "civilization of the red man". Additionally, Catholic missions in California, led by Franciscan priests, have been blamed for bringing European diseases that wiped out a significant portion of the native population.
In conclusion, the Catholic Church's role in defending Native Americans has been nuanced and multifaceted. While individual Catholic figures and missionaries have often advocated for and supported Native American communities, the Church as an institution has also been implicated in the historical wrongs committed against them. This complex history continues to shape the relationship between the Catholic Church and Native American communities today.
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Catholic Native Americans' rates of institutional disaffiliation
The history of the Catholic Church and Native Americans is long and complex, marked by both collaboration and conflict. While some Catholic missionaries defended Native Americans' rights and decried their mistreatment, others were complicit in the colonisation and decimation of Native populations. This has understandably led to a difficult relationship between the Catholic Church and Native Americans, with a history of child sexual abuse, cultural debasement, and the siphoning of funds from Native people for Catholic mission schools.
Today, Native American Catholics are facing similar challenges to most Catholic communities in the United States, with institutional disaffiliation among young people being a significant issue. Native American Catholics are among the least likely to register their children in Catholic schools, and they are struggling with high rates of non-marital cohabitation, suicide, and poverty. The average age of disaffiliation for former Catholics is 13 years old, and this phenomenon is not unique to the Catholic Church, with young people across the country displaying a general attitude of mistrust toward religious leaders and communities.
In 2019, the U.S. bishops acknowledged the need for transformation, evangelisation, and cultural competency in Native American ministry, recognising the importance of respect when working with Native American communities. However, the presence of the Catholic Church within these communities remains significant, with over 700,000 Native American Catholics in the United States and more than 340 parishes serving predominantly Native American congregations.
While the percentage of Native Americans who identify as Catholic varies depending on the tribe, estimates range from 20% to 25% of the Native population. For example, the Pueblo tribe of New Mexico is about 75% Catholic, while only about 3% of the Navajo tribe identify as Catholic.
In conclusion, while Native American Catholics face unique challenges that contribute to institutional disaffiliation, their communities remain an important part of the Catholic Church in the United States, with a long and resilient history.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that around 20% of Native Americans are Catholic. This equates to approximately 580,000 people.
The Catholic Church has a complicated history with Native Americans, with a legacy of both support and abuse. On the one hand, Catholic missionaries have been linked to the colonisation and decimation of native populations, and the Church has been accused of mistreating indigenous people to gain mainstream acceptance. On the other hand, there are also accounts of Catholic missionaries defending Native Americans from abuses by European colonisers and standing up for their rights.
The relationship between the Catholic Church and Native Americans is complex and varied. While some Native Americans have embraced Catholicism while still valuing their indigenous heritage, others have returned to their animist heritage due to the historical and ongoing injustices and abuses committed by the Church. The Catholic Church's presence within Native American communities remains significant, with over 340 US parishes serving predominantly Native American congregations.
Native American Catholics face unique challenges, including high rates of poverty, non-marital cohabitation, and suicide. They also struggle with institutional disaffiliation, with low rates of registration in Catholic schools and a decline in religious affiliation among young people. However, Native American Catholics participate in similar ways to other Catholics, with Mass attendance being the most common form of religious expression.
