Joshua Bennett
Black Catholicism or African-American Catholicism refers to the African-American people, beliefs, and practices in the Catholic Church. There are around three million Black Catholics in the United States, making up 6% of the total population of African Americans, who are mostly Protestant, and 4% of American Catholics. Black Catholics in America are a heavily immigrant population, with 68% being born in the United States, and 12% born in Africa. While the majority of Black Christians in the U.S. are Protestant, Black Catholics express some distinctive preferences and expectations about their congregations. For example, they are more likely than White or Hispanic Catholics to say they think it is essential that churches offer a sense of racial affirmation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of African American Catholics in the US | 3 million |
| Percentage of African Americans who are Catholic | 6% |
| Percentage of total US population that is African American Catholic | 4% |
| Percentage of African American Catholics in predominantly white parishes | 76% |
| Percentage of African American Catholics in predominantly African American parishes | 24% |
| Percentage of Black Catholics who are converts | 16% |
| Percentage of Black Catholics who no longer identify as such | 4% |
| Percentage of Black Catholics who are converts | 1% |
| Percentage of Black adults who were raised Catholic and still identify as Catholic | 54% |
| Percentage of White adults who were raised Catholic and still identify as Catholic | 61% |
| Percentage of Hispanic adults who were raised Catholic and still identify as Catholic | 68% |
| Percentage of African immigrants who are religiously unaffiliated | 6% |
| Percentage of Black Americans from the Caribbean who are Catholic | 11% |
| Percentage of Black Democrats | 84% |
| Percentage of Black Republicans | 10% |
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What You'll Learn
Black Catholics in the US number around 3 million
Historically, Black Catholics have had very different experiences from Black Protestants, who constitute the majority of Black Christians in the US. While Black Protestants predominantly worship in churches with other Black attendees, most Black Catholics are racial minorities in their congregations. This is due to the relatively small number of predominantly Black Catholic parishes, with only about 24% of Black Catholics attending these churches.
The racial composition of congregations is influenced by geographical factors, with 798 out of 1,744 Roman Catholic parishes in the US being predominantly African American, mainly on the East Coast and in the South. West of the Mississippi River, African American Catholics are more likely to attend multicultural parishes.
The religious practices and preferences of Black Catholics can differ from those of other racial groups within the Catholic Church. For example, they are more likely to consider it essential that churches provide a sense of racial affirmation. Additionally, Black Catholics have a higher rate of conversion, with 16% having converted to Catholicism from another religious tradition or from being religiously unaffiliated.
The history of Catholicism among Black Americans is complex and dynamic. During the period of Spanish colonization, some African Catholics were among the first enslaved people brought to what became the United States. In the late 15th century, Catholicism was used as a tactic by Spaniards to help enslaved Africans gain their freedom, leading to the establishment of free Black towns in certain parts of what is now Los Angeles and Florida.
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Black Catholics make up 6% of African Americans
Black Catholicism, or African-American Catholicism, refers to the people, beliefs, and practices of Black Catholics within the Catholic Church. Black Catholics are largely an immigrant population, with 68% born in the United States, 12% in Africa, 11% in the Caribbean, and 5% in other parts of Central or South America. Black Catholics are racial minorities in their congregations, with 76% in predominantly white parishes and 24% in predominantly Black parishes.
Historically, Black Catholics have had very different experiences from Black Protestants, who make up the majority of Black Christians in the United States. While Black Protestants often belong to historically Black denominations, such as the National Baptist Convention and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Black Catholics have tended to worship in predominantly white parishes. However, during the Jim Crow era, many Black parishes were established as a result of racial segregation.
The relationship between Catholicism and African Americans has been complex and dynamic. While Catholicism was used by Spaniards to help enslaved Africans gain freedom during the 15th and 16th centuries, the Catholic Church also played a role in the transatlantic slave trade, with multiple European colonial powers bringing African slaves to their colonies in North America. Despite this history, many African immigrants identify as Catholic, and Black Catholics have developed a distinct identity within the Church, with unique practices such as integrating Negro spirituals into Mass during the Black Catholic Movement of the 1960s and 1970s.
Today, Black Catholics are leaving the Church due to various reasons, including racism and the after-effects of the pandemic. However, the presence of Black Catholics in the Catholic Church continues to be significant, with 12 living African American Bishops, including one Cardinal and one Archbishop, as of 2025.
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76% of African American Catholics worship in white parishes
In the United States, there are approximately 3 million African American Catholics, constituting about 5% of non-Hispanic Black Americans. While Protestantism has historically dominated the Black religious landscape in the U.S., Catholicism has maintained a significant presence among African Americans. Notably, 76% of African American Catholics worship in predominantly white parishes, while 24% attend predominantly African American parishes. This disparity can be partly attributed to the distribution of parishes across the country. West of the Mississippi River, African American Catholics are more likely to attend multicultural parishes, whereas on the East Coast and in the South, there are more parishes that cater specifically to African American Catholics.
The religious experiences of Black Catholics differ significantly from those of Black Protestants, who constitute the majority of Black Christians in the U.S. While two-thirds of Black Protestants routinely worship where most attendees share their race, only about a quarter of Black Catholics attend predominantly Black parishes. This disparity may be influenced by the historical formation of predominantly Black Protestant denominations, such as the National Baptist Convention and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, during the 19th century when Black Americans faced restrictions on where they could worship freely.
The racial dynamics within Catholic parishes contribute to the distinct experiences of African American Catholics. Unlike their White and Hispanic counterparts, who primarily worship within their racial groups, most Black Catholic churchgoers find themselves as racial minorities in their congregations. This dynamic leads to variations in worship styles and practices. For example, Black Catholics are more likely than White Catholics to attend services where people express praise by calling out "amen" or engaging in charismatic styles of worship, such as speaking in tongues or spontaneous dancing.
Despite the relatively lower percentage of African Americans within Catholicism, Black Catholics have attained notable representation in the Church's leadership. Currently, there are 12 African American Bishops, including one Cardinal and one Archbishop, with 5 retired bishops. Additionally, 4 U.S. dioceses are headed by African American bishops. These figures reflect a degree of inclusivity and representation within the Catholic Church hierarchy for the Black community.
While the percentage of African American Catholics might seem low compared to other racial groups, their presence and impact within the Catholic Church in the United States are significant. The survey findings highlight the diversity and variety of experiences among African American Catholics, showcasing the multifaceted nature of religious engagement within this community.
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54% of Black Catholics remain in the Church
Black Catholics in the United States make up 6% of the total population of African Americans, who are mostly Protestant, and 4% of American Catholics. There are around three million Black Catholics in the United States, out of a total of just over 41 million African Americans.
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2019-2020 found that 54% of Black Catholics remain in the Church, compared to 61% of White adults and 68% of Hispanic adults who were raised as Catholics and still identify with the faith. This means that there are more Black Catholics who have left the Church than those who have converted to Catholicism.
The history of Catholicism among African Americans is complex and dynamic. During the period of Spanish colonization in the 15th and 16th centuries, Catholicism was used as a tactic to help enslaved Africans gain their freedom. The Spanish freed slaves who reached their territory if they converted to Catholicism. This dynamic played out in various colonies, including those of the French and the English. However, the expression of Catholicism among Black Catholics evolved, leading to a more independent identity within the Church.
Today, most Black Catholics are racial minorities in their congregations, unlike White and Hispanic Catholics. While 76% of African American Catholics attend predominantly White parishes, 24% attend predominantly Black parishes. Black Catholics express distinctive preferences, such as emphasizing the importance of racial affirmation from their congregations. They are also more likely to attend religious services and view opposing racism as essential to their faith.
The reasons for leaving the Catholic Church among Black Catholics include racism and the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, the Archdiocese of Baltimore, for example, has implemented processes to support and strengthen parishes, recognizing the unique cultural beauty that African American Catholics bring to the Church.
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Caribbean-born Black Americans are more likely to be Catholic
According to a Pew Research Center survey, 5% of non-Hispanic Black Americans are Catholics, accounting for roughly two million people. This percentage is significantly lower than that of Hispanic and White Catholics. While Protestantism has historically dominated the Black religious landscape in the United States, Catholicism has maintained a significant presence among Black Americans.
Black immigrants from the Caribbean are more likely to be Catholic than those born in the United States. In 2019, approximately 5% of Black Americans were born in the Caribbean. While many Caribbean-born Black immigrants identify as Protestant (57%), a larger share of this population identifies as Catholic (19%) compared to U.S.-born Black Americans (5%). Caribbean-born Black immigrants are also more likely to be unaffiliated with any religion (23%) than their U.S.-born counterparts (18%).
The religious profiles of Caribbean-born Black immigrants differ in other ways as well. They are less likely to believe that people of faith have a duty to convert non-believers (50%) compared to African immigrants (68%) and U.S.-born Black adults (50%). Additionally, Caribbean-born Black immigrants are more likely to support the acceptance of homosexuality in society (52%) than African immigrants (38%), with U.S.-born Black adults falling in between these two groups (63%).
In terms of religious practices, Caribbean-born Black immigrants attend religious services less frequently than African immigrants. Around 30% of Caribbean-born Black immigrants attend religious services at least weekly, compared to 54% of African immigrants and 32% of U.S.-born Black adults. Furthermore, while religion is considered very important by a majority of Caribbean-born Black immigrants (59%), this percentage is lower than that of African immigrants (72%).
In summary, Caribbean-born Black Americans are more likely to be Catholic than their U.S.-born counterparts. They also differ in terms of religious affiliation, beliefs, practices, and social and cultural perspectives. These differences contribute to the diverse religious landscape within the Black community in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
6% of African Americans are Catholic, making up 4% of American Catholics. This equates to around 3 million people.
Most African Americans are Protestant. A 2021 survey found that 60% of Black adults who attend religious services do so at places where most attendees are also Black.
Saint Ambrose Roman Catholic Church in Baltimore is one of many predominantly African American Catholic churches in the US. 798 Roman Catholic parishes are considered to be predominantly African American, with most on the East Coast and in the South.
It is decreasing. A 2021 Pew Research study found that only just over half of Black American adults raised Catholic remain in the Church.
