Black Catholics
Catholic parishes disproportionately closed in poor, Black and Latino neighborhoods
By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — April 5, 2024
(RNS) — Priest shortages have played a significant role in the decisions to close parishes.
In the US, Black survivors are nearly invisible in the Catholic clergy sexual abuse crisis
By Lea Skene and Tiffany Stanley — November 29, 2023
BALTIMORE (AP) — Cases of clergy abuse among African Americans are especially underreported, according to experts.
As the election cycle cranks up, Christians need to call out white Christian nationalism
By Kelly Brown Douglas and Bryan N. Massingale — June 27, 2023
(RNS) — White and Black Christians need to truly partner with God in building a more just future for all.
Young Black Catholics are still here and flourishing more than their peers
By Josh Packard and Byron Wratee — April 1, 2022
(RNS) — A new study found Gen Z Black Catholics are more traditionally religious than their Catholic peers of other racial groups.
Study: Black Catholics in US are a tiny minority increasingly drawing on immigrants
By Yonat Shimron — March 15, 2022
(RNS) — Only 68% of Black Catholics are U.S.-born. The rest are from Africa, the Caribbean or South America.
Black gay priest in NYC challenges Catholicism from within
By Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu — February 14, 2022
NEW YORK (AP) — The Rev. Massingale is often at odds with official Catholic teaching — he supports the ordination of women and making celibacy optional for Catholic clergy.
A divinity school steps up to fight the HIV epidemic in the South
By Monique Parsons — February 7, 2022
(Interfaith America) — Wake Forest University School of Divinity in North Carolina is host to the Gilead COMPASS Faith Coordinating Center, part of a $100 million, multi-pronged effort to bring down HIV infection rates and destigmatize the disease.
Amid Black exodus, young Catholics are pushing the church to address racism
By Alejandra Molina — November 15, 2021
(RNS) — For many Black Catholics, there's a fundamental belief that you cannot be a Christian and a racist. 'We have a duty to preach the gospel to our white brothers and sisters,' said Byron Wratee.
We need more from the Catholic bishops than a mixed response to racism
By Thomas Reese — April 28, 2021
(RNS) — Catholics deserve better leadership from the bishops in the struggle against racism.
Chicago parish fiercely backs priest after sex abuse claims
By Sophia Tareen — March 15, 2021
CHICAGO (AP) — "Father Pfleger is our family," said St. Sabina parishioner Pam Bosley. "We are not going to stop. We need him back."
At Amanda Gorman’s Black Catholic LA parish, ‘it’s like everybody here is a freedom fighter’
By Alejandra Molina — January 28, 2021
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Poet Amanda Gorman sang in the youth choir, did her sacraments and recited her poetry at an Afrocentric Catholic church in South Central Los Angeles.
Black Catholics: Words not enough as church decries racism
By David Crary — June 22, 2020
NEW YORK (AP) — As protests against racism and police brutality continue nationwide, there are rising calls for huge new investment in Catholic schools serving Black communities.
Play about first African American priest in the US highlights current issues
By Alejandra Molina — February 19, 2020
PASADENA, Calif. (RNS) — Churches in the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles hosted performances of the play, 'Tolton: From Slave to Priest' during Black History Month.
In Brazil, historic black lay Catholic ‘brotherhoods’ fight to survive
By Eduardo Campos Lima — December 6, 2019
(RNS) — After centuries resisting slavery, racism and inequality, dozens of black Catholic lay associations are hopeful that a new network and changes in the Church will extend their history.
The priest who channeled Black Power into the Catholic Church
By Matthew J. Cressler — December 2, 2019
(RNS) — George Clements teamed with Black Panthers and helped create space to be both ‘authentically Black’ and ‘truly Catholic.’
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