Black History and the Catholic Church

 As we start the journey through February, Black History Month in the United States, we need to be mindful of all the contributions that those of African American descent have made in the history of the United States and to the Catholic Church both past and up to the present.

 Some people forget that Christianity did not originate in Europe and even express surprise when they learn that Black Catholic History began in the Acts of the Apostles (8: 26-40) with the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch by Philip the Deacon.  This text is important for several reasons. First, it chronicles the conversion of the first Black African in recorded Christian history. Second, the text suggests that the man was a wealthy, literate, and powerful emissary of the Nubian Queen and also a faithful, practicing Jew before his baptism. Clearly, he was not an ignorant heathen. Third, the Ethiopian Eunuch’s conversion predates the conversions of Saints Paul and Cornelius. Most significantly, many cite this conversion as the very moment when the church changed from a Hebrew and Hellenist community to the truly Universal and Catholic Church.  We also need to keep in mind, except for the Romans from Europe, the Bible is filled with people of color.  While ethnic background should not matter, it has become an issue in this country over the past few years.

It goes to reason that the Catholic Church has many Black Saints.  Black/African American Catholics claim many Black Saint: Saints Cyprian, Zeno, Anthony of Egypt, Moses the Black, Pachomius, Maurice, Athanasius, Pisentius, Mary of Egypt, Cyril of Alexandria, Monica of Hippo, Augustine of Hippo, Perpetua, Felicitas, and Thecla. Some of these mystics, monastics, and, martyrs literally made the church what it is today.  There are seven more currently working their way through the process of becoming Saints:  Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, Venerable Henrietta Delille,  Venerable Pierre Toussaint, Servant of God Mother Mary Lange, Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, Servant of God Julia Greely, and Daniel A Rudd. 

As you can see the Catholic Church has a  rich history of contributions from the African brothers and sisters that are part of the great universal Catholic Church.  Sadly, the American Catholic Church did not seriously commit its time and resources to minister to the African-American population during the antebellum or post-bellum periods. However, God made a way for them, even when one wasn’t provided to them by the Church.

Black History Month provides opportunities to learn and share the whole history and rich heritage of Christian Catholicism.  The issue facing the Black Catholic then as it is now is what the Catholic Church is still failing to address directly.  Choosing to take a very slow and deliberate route that seems to include ignoring there are issues needing to be addressed.