Michael Brooks
Black Catholics in the United States have a long history of facing segregation and racism within the Catholic Church. While Black Catholics have made significant contributions to the Church, such as the founding of the Oblate Sisters of Providence by Haitian-American nun Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, they have often been erased from academic and public discourse. A recent study by the Pew Research Center highlights the unique experiences and perspectives of Black Catholics, who make up 6% of Black Americans. Black Catholics tend to have different experiences from Black Protestants, who make up the majority of Black Christians in the US. They are less likely to worship in parishes where most people share their race or ethnicity and often face the challenge of reconciling their Catholic faith with the troubling history of the Catholic Church regarding racial issues.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Black Americans who are Catholics | 6% |
| Number of Black Catholics in the U.S. | Nearly 3 million |
| Black Catholics' preference for worship | Less likely to worship in parishes where most people share their race or ethnicity |
| Black Catholics' beliefs | Opposing racism (77%), opposing sexism (75%), believing in God (73%) |
| Black Catholics' expectations from churches | Teach practical job and life skills (40%), address political topics such as immigration and race relations (40%) |
| Black Catholics' experiences | Distinctive from those of other U.S. Catholics |
| Black Catholics' practices | Very active participation in worship and very expressive |
| Black Catholics' perception by others | Rare and almost unnoticeable in Catholicism |
| History of Black Americans with the Catholic Church | Not allowed to take part in Catholic rituals like serving at the altar or receiving Communion |
| Efforts to address racism in the Catholic Church | Introduction of an anti-racism committee by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |
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What You'll Learn
- Black Catholics are rare in America due to historical reasons
- Black Catholics have different experiences and beliefs compared to other Catholics
- Black Catholics are more likely to want churches to address political topics
- Black Catholics are more likely to want churches to teach practical job and life skills
- Black Catholics face erasure from academic and public discourse
Black Catholics are rare in America due to historical reasons
Black Catholics are a minority in the United States, comprising a small share of Black adults (6%) and an even smaller share of Catholic adults (4%). While there are approximately 3 million Black Catholics in the US, they are rare and seem concentrated in a few parishes. This phenomenon can be attributed to historical reasons, primarily the legacy of slavery and racial segregation in the country.
During the era of slavery in the United States, most slaves were purchased by white Christian slave owners in the South, and the majority of these slave owners were Protestants. Consequently, they imparted their Protestant faith to their slaves and the children born into slavery. This dynamic was distinct from the Caribbean and Latin America, where Black people were more likely to be taught Catholicism by their enslavers. As a result, Haitian and Black Hispanic immigrants today are more likely to be Catholic than Protestant.
Additionally, the formation of historically Black Protestant denominations in the 19th century, such as the National Baptist Convention and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, provided spaces for Black Americans to worship freely during a time when they faced restrictions on their religious practices elsewhere. These denominations continue to be prevalent among Black Christians, who make up the majority of Black Christians in the US.
Furthermore, racial segregation within Catholic parishes also played a role in shaping the religious landscape for Black Americans. While integrated parishes exist, a significant proportion of Black Catholics attend predominantly white parishes (76%), and only a small percentage worship in predominantly Black parishes (24%). This dynamic further contributes to the relatively smaller numbers of Black Catholics in the US.
In recent times, a large exodus of African-American Catholics, along with other Catholics in America, occurred during the 1970s. This was followed by a continually shrinking population of African Americans within the Catholic Church in the 21st century. A 2021 Pew Research study found that only just over half of Black American adults raised Catholic remain in the Church. Despite these historical factors, there are notable Black Catholics in American history, such as Venerable Pierre Toussaint, a Haitian-American born into slavery who became a famous philanthropist, and Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, a Haitian-American nun who co-founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence in 1828 to serve Black women when they were excluded from existing orders.
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Black Catholics have different experiences and beliefs compared to other Catholics
Black Catholics have had a long history of fighting against racial discrimination and segregation within the Catholic Church. Despite this, Black Catholics have continued to experience distinctive religious habits and practices compared to other Catholics.
Different Experiences
Black Catholics' experiences at Mass and in parishes differ from those of other U.S. Catholics. Black Catholics are less likely to worship in parishes where most people share their race or ethnicity. Only 25% of Black Catholics who attend Mass regularly report going to a Mass where most attendees are Black, compared to 80% of White Catholic churchgoers and 67% of Hispanic Catholic churchgoers. Black Catholics are also more likely to attend services where people call out "amen" or other expressions of praise and are more likely to engage in charismatic styles of worship, such as speaking or praying in tongues and spontaneous jumping, shouting, and dancing during the service.
Different Beliefs
Black Catholics express different preferences and expectations about their congregations compared to White and Hispanic Catholics. They are more likely to emphasize the importance of racial affirmation and believe that churches should address political topics such as immigration, race relations, and racism. They also consider it essential that churches teach practical job and life skills and assist people with housing, food, and bills. Additionally, Black Catholics hold beliefs common to the black church, including a strong belief in God's omnipresence and omnipotence in daily life struggles, a commitment to social and political justice, and a sense of hope in the face of adversity.
Impact on the Catholic Church
The experiences and beliefs of Black Catholics have influenced the Catholic Church in the United States. For example, in the 1950s, Black Catholics like Fr Clarence Rivers fused black Gospel music with Catholic liturgy, leading to the ""Gospel Mass" trend that spread across the nation. Black Catholics also played a role in opposing segregation in New Orleans in the late 19th century, with Homer Plessy, a biracial Black Catholic, participating in a direct action against streetcar segregation.
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Black Catholics are more likely to want churches to address political topics
Being Black and Catholic is not inherently bad. However, Black Catholics in the United States have had a unique and often challenging history. They have faced segregation and racism within the Catholic Church, and today, they make up only a small percentage of U.S. Catholics. According to a 2021 Pew Research study, only just over half of Black American adults who were raised Catholic still remain in the Church.
Black Catholics have distinct preferences and expectations for their congregations. They are more likely than White or Hispanic Catholics to want churches to offer a sense of racial affirmation and to assist people with practical needs like bills, housing, and food. They also place a higher importance on opposing racism and sexism as part of their Christian faith.
One notable difference between Black and White Catholics is their views on the role of politics in sermons. Black Catholics are more likely than White Catholics to say it is essential that churches offer sermons that address political topics such as immigration and race relations. They are also more likely to want churches to teach practical job and life skills. This may be due to the unique experiences and perspectives of Black Catholics, who often have different priorities and concerns than their White counterparts.
The desire for political sermons among Black Catholics may also be influenced by their strong Democratic affiliation. According to a Pew Research Center study, eight in ten Black Catholics identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party. There is broad agreement among Black Catholics on the need for criminal justice reform and the positive impact of immigrants on American society. However, there are differing views on abortion, with religiously unaffiliated Black Americans being more likely to support legal abortion than churchgoing Black Catholics.
Overall, the preference for political sermons among Black Catholics reflects their desire for churches to address social issues and current events that impact their lives and communities. By engaging with political topics, churches can provide a sense of relevance and empowerment for Black Catholics, allowing them to explore the intersection of their faith and their lived experiences.
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Black Catholics are more likely to want churches to teach practical job and life skills
Being black and Catholic is not inherently bad. However, Black Catholics in the United States have had a unique historical experience, and their religious beliefs and practices differ from those of Black Protestants, who make up the majority of Black Christians in the country.
Black Catholics have a distinct set of priorities and expectations from their congregations. Notably, they are more likely than White or Hispanic Catholics to emphasize the importance of churches offering a sense of racial affirmation and opposing racism and sexism.
One notable aspect of the Black Catholic experience is their lower likelihood of worshipping in parishes where most people share their race or ethnicity. Only about a quarter of Black Catholics who attend Mass regularly report that they usually go to a liturgy where most attendees share their race. This is in stark contrast to White and Hispanic Catholic churchgoers, who predominantly worship in parishes with a majority of their respective racial or ethnic groups.
Black Catholics are also more likely than White Catholics to report engaging in charismatic worship expressions, such as calling out "amen," praying in tongues, and spontaneously shouting, dancing, and jumping during Mass.
Now, let's focus on the specific aspect of Black Catholics' desire for practical job and life skills teachings:
Black Catholics, along with Hispanic Catholics, express a stronger desire for churches to teach practical job and life skills compared to White Catholics. About four in ten Black and Hispanic Catholics consider this important, while only about one in five White Catholics share the same view. This preference for practical teachings is part of a broader set of priorities for Black Catholics, who have historically faced unique challenges and may seek more tangible forms of support from their religious institutions.
Additionally, Black Catholics are more likely to want churches to address political topics such as immigration and race relations in their sermons. They also prioritize a welcoming atmosphere and inspiring sermons when considering choosing a church. The desire for practical skills teachings fits within this broader context of seeking relevant and applicable guidance from religious institutions.
Furthermore, Black Catholics are more likely to turn to churches for assistance with basic needs. Lower-income Black adults, in particular, have sought help with expenses, bills, housing, and food from religious organizations. This underscores the importance of practical support within the community and aligns with the desire for churches to teach practical job and life skills.
The history of Black Catholics in America is also marked by segregation and the establishment of separate parishes, such as the founding of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., in 1858, by free Black Catholics who opted out of their segregated status at St. Matthew's Cathedral. The establishment of Black Catholic parishes and congregations has been a significant part of their history and continues to shape their religious experiences today.
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Black Catholics face erasure from academic and public discourse
Black Catholics have historically faced erasure from academic and public discourse, with many individuals expressing surprise at the existence of Black Catholics. This is despite the long history of Black Catholics in America, dating back to the earliest converts to Christianity and the development of unique African Catholic communities during the colonial era.
The Black Catholic Movement of the 1960s and beyond played a crucial role in shaping Black Catholic theology, which is largely aligned with mainstream Catholic theology but enriched by beliefs common to the Black church. These include a strong belief in God's omnipresence and omnipotence, a commitment to social and political justice, and a sense of hope in the face of adversity.
However, Black Catholics have often been excluded from discussions about the religious attitudes and experiences of Black Americans, as well as from Catholic narratives. For example, the PBS documentary "The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song" incorporated Catholic imagery but failed to address the presence of Black Catholics.
The recent Pew Research Center study, "Black Catholics in America," is a significant step toward ending this erasure. It highlights the unique experiences and perspectives of Black Catholics, who make up a small proportion of the predominantly White or Hispanic Catholic churches in the US. Black Catholics express a strong desire for racial affirmation and opposition to racism and sexism within their congregations, reflecting their priorities as Christians.
The efforts of individuals like Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, who founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence in 1828 to provide education for neglected Black youth, and Venerable Pierre Toussaint, a Haitian-American philanthropist, are also important in shaping the narrative of Black Catholics in America.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is not bad to be Black and Catholic. However, Black Catholics have had a very different experience compared to White Catholics. Black Catholics have had to fight for their place in the Catholic Church, with many experiencing racism and segregation.
Historically, Black Catholics have faced segregation in churches, being forced to worship separately from White Catholics. For example, at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C., Black Catholics were forced to worship in the basement until they left to found their own church in 1858. Black Catholics have also been excluded from taking part in Catholic rituals, such as serving at the altar or receiving communion.
According to a 2022 Pew Research Center study, 6% of Black Americans identify as Catholic, which equates to around 3 million people. While this is a small percentage, it is still a significant number of people.
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