Rachel Evans
Black Catholics are a minority within a minority in the United States, comprising 4% of the Catholic population, or approximately 3 million people. They are also a minority within the Black community, with Black adults identifying as Catholic at a rate of 6%. Black Catholics have distinct religious habits and experiences from other US Catholics, and their religious beliefs and practices differ from those of Black Protestants.
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What You'll Learn
- There are approximately 3 million Black Catholics in the US, comprising 4% of the Catholic population
- Black Catholics are more likely than other Catholics to rely on prayer for guidance in major life decisions
- Black Catholics are more likely to believe the Bible should be taken literally
- Black Catholics are more liberal on abortion and homosexuality
- Black Catholics are a minority within a minority, rarely seeing a Black priest celebrate Mass
There are approximately 3 million Black Catholics in the US, comprising 4% of the Catholic population
Black Catholics are a minority within a minority in the United States. While Black Americans make up about 13% of the US population, Black Catholics comprise only 4% of the country's Catholic population. This amounts to approximately 3 million people.
Demographically, the Black Catholic population falls between the White Catholic and Hispanic Catholic populations in terms of age. About half of Black Catholic adults are under 50 years old (52%), compared to 71% of Hispanic Catholics and 30% of White Catholics. There are more Black Catholics in the South than in any other region, with 45% of Black Catholics living in this region. Roughly 29% live in the Northeast, 15% in the West, and 11% in the Midwest.
Black Catholics are more likely than other Catholics to rely heavily on prayer for guidance in major life decisions. Nearly half (48%) say they do this, compared to 37% of Hispanic Catholics and 32% of White Catholics. They are also more likely to read scripture outside of religious services, with 30% saying they do this at least once a week, compared to 16% of White Catholics and 18% of Hispanic Catholics.
Despite high levels of religious commitment, Black Catholics are abandoning the church. Only 54% of Black adults who were raised Catholic continue to identify as such, compared to 61% of White adults and 81% of Black adults who were raised Protestant. A significant number of Black Catholics who leave the church become Protestant or unaffiliated with any organized religion. Racial discrimination has been cited as a major reason for this exodus, with nearly half of Black Catholics expressing that a commitment to racial justice is essential to their faith.
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Black Catholics are more likely than other Catholics to rely on prayer for guidance in major life decisions
Black Catholics make up a small share of Black adults (6%) and an even smaller share of Catholic adults (4%) in the United States. However, there are approximately 3 million Black Catholics in the country. While they are a minority, Black Catholics have received media attention, especially after Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., became the first Black American cardinal in 2020.
Black Catholics' religious habits and experiences differ from those of other U.S. Catholics. For instance, Black Catholics are more likely than other Catholics to rely on prayer for guidance in major life decisions. While 48% of Black Catholics say they depend "a lot" on prayer for major life decisions, only 37% of Hispanic Catholics and 32% of White Catholics do the same. This reliance on prayer is also reflected in how Black Catholics approach scripture outside of religious services, with 30% reading scripture at least once a week, compared to 16% of White Catholics and 18% of Hispanic Catholics.
The differences between Black Catholics and other Catholic groups extend beyond their religious practices. Demographically, Black Catholic adults are more likely to be under 50 (52%) compared to White Catholics (30%), but less likely than Hispanic Catholics (71%). In terms of geography, the South has the highest number of Black Catholics (45%), followed by the Northeast (29%), the West (15%), and the Midwest (11%). Additionally, 68% of Black Catholics were born in the U.S., a much higher proportion than Hispanic Catholics (40%) and a much lower proportion than White Catholics (94%).
Black Catholics also express distinctive preferences and expectations about their congregations. They are more likely than White or Hispanic Catholics to believe that churches should offer a sense of racial affirmation and assistance to those in need. Furthermore, Black Catholics are more likely to emphasize the importance of opposing racism and sexism in their Christian faith. About 77% of Black Catholics say that opposing racism is essential to what being Christian means to them, while smaller shares emphasize regular church attendance (26%), opposing abortion (22%), and avoiding sex before marriage (16%).
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Black Catholics are more likely to believe the Bible should be taken literally
Black Catholics make up a small share of Black adults (6%) and an even smaller share of Catholic adults (4%) in the United States. Despite this, there are approximately 3 million Black Catholics in the U.S., highlighting a significant presence of this community within the country's religious landscape.
When it comes to their religious beliefs and practices, Black Catholics stand out from their White and Hispanic Catholic counterparts. Notably, Black Catholics are more likely to believe that the Bible should be taken literally compared to other Catholics. While 28% of Black Catholics hold this view, only 12% of White Catholics and 18% of Hispanic Catholics share the same belief. This inclination towards a literal interpretation of the Bible is also reflected in the broader Black American population, where 44% of Black Americans overall assert that the Bible or their religion's holy scripture should be taken "literally, word for word."
The tendency for Black Catholics to interpret the Bible literally is part of a broader pattern of religious engagement. Black Catholics are more likely than other Catholics to rely heavily on prayer for guidance in significant life decisions. This is evident as nearly half of Black Catholics (48%) affirm this reliance, compared to 37% of Hispanic Catholics and 32% of White Catholics. Additionally, Black Catholics are more likely to read scripture outside of religious services, with 30% engaging in this practice at least once a week, compared to 16% of White Catholics and 18% of Hispanic Catholics.
The survey also reveals that Black Catholics are more likely to be religious than White Catholics, as evidenced by their engagement with prayer and scripture. However, when compared to Black Protestants, Black Catholics tend to be less religious. This is reflected in the lower percentages of Black Catholics who pray daily (48% vs. 73% of Black Protestants), consider religion very important in their lives (63% vs. 73%), and read scripture at least once a week (30% vs. 51%). These findings showcase the nuanced differences in religious practices and beliefs among various racial and religious groups.
While Black Catholics demonstrate a unique set of religious characteristics, they are also influenced by broader cultural and social factors. For instance, the survey found that among Black adults, there are more individuals who have left Catholicism (4%) than those who have converted to the faith (1%). This highlights the complex dynamics of religious affiliation and change within the Black community. Additionally, when it comes to demographics, Black Catholics fall in the middle of White Catholic and Hispanic Catholic populations in terms of age. About half of Black Catholic adults are under 50 years old (52%), compared to 71% of Hispanic Catholics and 30% of White Catholics.
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Black Catholics are more liberal on abortion and homosexuality
There are approximately 3 million Black Catholics in the United States, comprising 6% of Black adults and 4% of Catholic adults. Black Catholics are more likely than other Catholics to rely on prayer for guidance in major life decisions. They are also more likely to read scripture outside of religious services and to believe that the Bible should be taken literally.
When it comes to abortion and homosexuality, Black Catholics may be considered more liberal in their views compared to the official teachings of the Catholic Church. While the Church teaches that abortion and homosexual activity are wrong, many American Catholics, including Black Catholics, hold opinions that run counter to these doctrines. For example, a Pew Research poll found that three-quarters of U.S. Catholics say the Church should permit birth control, and about half favor same-sex marriage. Views on abortion are more mixed, with about half of Catholics overall believing it should be legal in all or most cases, while a significant portion believes it should be illegal.
Black Catholics, in particular, may be influenced by their religious experiences, which differ from those of other U.S. Catholics. Their religious beliefs and practices also differ from those of Black Protestants, who are more likely to pray daily and consider religion extremely important in their lives.
Additionally, when considering political views, Black Catholics may align with more liberal perspectives. For instance, Black Lives Matter protesters are mentioned as an example of "liberal Catholics" in a Catholic Answers Magazine article.
It is worth noting that the terms "liberal" and "conservative" are simplifications of complex theological spectrums, and individual beliefs may vary even within these labels.
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Black Catholics are a minority within a minority, rarely seeing a Black priest celebrate Mass
Black Catholics in the United States are a minority within a minority, with only around 250 Black priests in the country. This means that Black Catholics rarely see a Black priest celebrate Mass. There are approximately 3 million Black Catholics in the US, comprising a small share of Black adults (6%) and an even smaller share of Catholic adults (4%).
Historically, the Catholic Church in the US has been predominantly White, with most Catholic immigrants coming from Ireland and mainland Europe. In contrast, Black Americans have primarily belonged to Protestant faiths due to the legacy of slavery and racial segregation, which prevented the integration of Black communities into Catholic churches. As a result, Black Catholics have often had to turn away from familiar faith communities to join the Catholic Church.
Additionally, the small number of Black priests in the US can be attributed to various factors. For example, some religious orders, such as the Josephites, viewed race consciousness as a threat or a disqualifying characteristic for Black applicants. Moreover, Black Catholics are more likely than other Catholics to emphasize racial justice as an essential dimension of their faith, which may contribute to their underrepresentation in the clergy.
The racial composition of Catholic churches in the US varies regionally. While most Black Catholics worship in predominantly White churches, about 25% attend churches where the majority of congregants are also Black. These predominantly Black Catholic congregations are mainly located on the East Coast and in the South, with 45% of Black Catholics residing in the South, 29% in the Northeast, 15% in the West, and 11% in the Midwest.
Despite the small numbers, Black Catholics in the US have received media attention with the elevation of Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., to the rank of cardinal in 2020. He became the first Black American cardinal, joining the five Black Catholic bishops in the country.
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Frequently asked questions
There are approximately 3 million Black Catholics in the US, comprising 4% of Catholic adults and 6% of Black adults.
Only about 25% of Black Catholics in the US attend churches where most congregants are also Black.
It is estimated that there are 200 million people of African descent in the Roman Catholic Church worldwide, with over 173 million of them living on the African continent.
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