Questions about being a Black Catholic?

May 2021 9 189 Report

Questions about being a Black Catholic?

I am a black catholic woman and whenever I tell ppl that they look at me crazy and ask how that can be? I am originally from Chicago and attended Catholic school there. I was in a urban neighborhood and lots of the kids there went to Catholic schools and there were predominately black catholic churches . I am now in Michigan and where I live at there are Catholic churches but not predominately Black Catholic churches. I attend one that is closer to the Metro Detroit area where they have more black catholic churches and a black catholic congress. Anyway why is that people question me regarding me being a black catholic and the fact that being a black catholic is not even possible? That is what one person told me but they were half way joking too..

I love being Catholic and want to share my faith with everybody if they are willing and especially my fellow black people. From what I have read there are many, many black catholics out there!

To the people that said why do I concern myself with a black catholic church b/c it doesn't make a difference. Well it matters to me b/c I like being in urban black catholic area not that I am racist it is b/c I like being able to work with and help the blacks in that community where it is so much needed. That is how my family and I became apart of in the church so much. And there for that is where my heart is at and I don't feel that I have to defend that either! To me it's like saying doesn't what church you attend b/c we are all the same which s not so for me b/c we all have different beliefs and things we would like to do.

Society & Culture / Other - Society & Culture

imacatholic2

Verified answer

Many people are rather ignorant about how many Catholics of African descent there are in the world.

The 270 million Catholics of African descent in more than 59 countries represent about 25% of the one billion Roman Catholics throughout the world.

Most Black Catholics are in Africa. However there are about 3 million in the United States.

Black Catholic statistics: http://www.nbccongress.org/black-catholics/worldwi...

and http://www.usccb.org/saac/AfricanAmericanCatholics...

Here is a link to the National Black Catholic Congress: http://www.nbccongress.org/default.asp

There have even been three African popes (so far):

• St. Victor I (189-199) http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15408a.htm

• St. Melchiades (311-314) http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10318a.htm

• St. Gelasius (492-496) http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06406a.htm

http://www.rc.net/africa/catholicafrica/saints.htm

http://www.rcan.org/bca/saintslist.htm

http://www.angelfire.com/realm/blackcatholics/earl...

With love in Christ.

Lexi

There's nothing wrong with being a black Catholic. I am Catholic, so what? It doesn't matter what your race is when a religion. Its the same religion and you all believe in the same thing. When people say its impossible for a black to be a catholic, just ignore them, they are obviously oblvious to the MILLIONS of African Americans and Asians and Hispanics and Native Americans and MUCH more races that are Catholic. They are either racist or untaught of that particular subject and need proper learning before blurting out something. There's nothing wrong with any race joining any religion, be it any person.

You taste like pork

I don't find that weird. I used to go to Catholic school and a lot of black people there were Catholics.

<<Why can I snip with out being deleted?>> Why slander ANYONE in any respect?!?! Shouldn't you've got matured via now? The reply is visible. Apparently, Catholics are much more likely to file slanderous assaults than black individuals. YA responds to the reviews and can ONLY delete content material that DOES correctly VIOLATE YA neighborhood recommendations. Therefore, for those who've having content material deleted, it is considering that Catholics are calling out your slanderous demeanor. <<Seriously, I have snip 10 minutes. Why?>> Like I mentioned, the reply is visible. Re-learn the above element of my reply, if you have not found out the OBVIOUS but.

Joana

Skin color is not an issue when you choose your religion.

If people find it weird it's their problem, they have serious issues.

I'm from Portugal, a mostly catholic country and most people around here assume you are catholic regardless of your skin color. There are bishops with darker skin, one of them was actually a candidate for Pope last time.

My suggestion is to simply ignore it and practice your faith the best way you can.

i.e. I am not biased, I'm a white atheist girl.

Friendly Stranger..

In my opinion, I don't think your race matters. However there are people that have made it matter even in our society today. The only reason why you are getting weird looks is because generally African Americans are not a part of Catholic churches. History supports this fact, and it continues to be true. The majority of African Americans are in the protestant faith, or they choose no faith at all. But regardless of whether there are African Americans in Catholic churches or not, it really doesn't matter in terms of race. Its just something that is still so uncommon and that is why you are looked at differently.

Anonymous

Care not-society is changing. One puzzle you might know the solution." When one needs blood transfusion does he/she asks whence it comes -_from black or white ?Ancestral habits are difficult to change to fit in present day circumstances but they will change one day! So worry not KEEP HOPE and keep SMILING under all events/circumstances!

An old Star Blazers fan

They just want you to be Baptist or whatever. Anyway it sounds to me like you empathise with blacks in a certain community and using your God-given gifts you will be of good service and be spiritually uplifted while you're at it. Most importantly you will bring glory to God. That is a good thing!!