Article by Rev. Matthew Hawkins... Few Black Americans are Catholic, and few American Catholics are Black. No one should be satisfied with this. Members of all parishes, not only those with a large percentage of African Americans, should reflect on how this came to be and why it persists. It can’t be dismissed as “just the way things are.” Read more...
Without a doubt, the announcement that Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory will be elevated to the College of Cardinals next month is a milestone in U.S. Black Catholic history. Yet perhaps few truly grasp its significance for both Black Catholics and the wider Catholic community. Read more...
In a special webinar requested by Cardinal Dolan, Bishop Shelton Fabre of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana told New York priests, deacons and seminarians “we must preach on racism because it is an evil and sin that continues to burden our Church and society, and it is a challenge that we must help our people to address and overcome.” Read more...
"In this moment of dual life-threatening pandemics; COVID-19 and racism, the voice of the church in America is, for the most part, eerily silent when it comes to the racial unrest in this country," said the Sept. 16 statement by the national organization of more than 150 Black Catholic women religious and associates in the United States. Read more...
At Mass marking anniversary of March on Washington, Archbishop Gregory announces archdiocesan initiative to oppose racism.
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The Black Catholic tradition comes from Black Catholics and is open to all, but parish closures risk losing a treasure to be shared. Read more...
"A Story about Racial Bias in America" from Proctor & Gamble. More...
"And that's what we need to uphold today — the dignity of every human being." Read more...
"My concern is that the interest in African American history, culture and experiences is likely to be just a passing fad," said Hawkins, parochial vicar at St. Benedict the Moor, the Diocese of Pittsburgh's personal parish for the Black Catholic community in Pittsburgh. Read more...
Given all that is transpiring around us and within us, I ask that you ponder the following: “OPEN WIDE OUR HEARTS”: THE ENDURING CALL TO LOVE". Read more...