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Featured Article:
A Brief History of African American Catholics
- "Slavery was a cruel social institution that corrupted the entire history of the United States.
It divided the nation. It divided religion. It touched every part of the Catholic Church. In 1839, Pope
Gregory XVI condemned slavery in the document Supremo Apostolatus Fastigio, but this made little impact.
Catholic slaveholders did not consider slavery immoral, since the Bible did not forbid it. Many priests
and religious sisters owned slaves. So did some bishops. Even some African American Catholics had slaves.
A black person might purchase a slave in order to be able to marry him or her and the spouse remained,
legally, a slave."
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| NBCC Spirituality Article |
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NBCC Directives to Protect Unborn Children
Print | Discuss Online
"[T]he acceptance of abortion
by many as a common procedure and even as a right is
A reality not only in our American society as a whole,
but also within the Black community…
As a people of faith, it is our task to fight for the right of life
of all our children and in all circumstances of their existence."
- Black Catholic Bishops of the United States
What We Have Seen and Heard (1984)
Although African-Americans constitute 12-14% of the national population, they account for more than 33% of all abortions in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since January 22, 1973, roughly 15-16 million Black children have been aborted in our country. Tragically, abortion has taken more Black lives that crime, cancer, heart disease, accidents, and HIV/AIDS combined!
Everyone must play a role, but Black Catholics play perhaps a foremost role in the "great struggle between good and evil, between light and darkness." (Pope John Paul II, The Gospel of Life, paragraph 104)
As such, we must live, serve, proclaim, and celebrate the Gospel of Life which consists in the proclamation of the very person of Jesus Christ, "the way, the truth, and life" (John 14:6) and "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:26) who "came that [we] may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)
We who have had our lives and dignity demeaned and dehumanized are indeed a "people of life and a people for life" (The Gospel of Life, Paragraph 101) who may bear the best witness to the Gospel of Life in our ordinary, everyday lives but extraordinary and exemplary ways.
Pope John Paul II noted, "In celebrating the Gospel of life we also need to appreciate and make good use of the…traditions and customs of different cultures and peoples. There are special times and ways in which the peoples of different nations and cultures express joy for a newborn life, respect for and protection of individual human lives…"
(The Gospel of Life, Paragraph 85) As Black Catholics, we can do no less.
| Ideal State 1 |
Black Catholics Celebrate The Word of Life Made Flesh (1John 1:1-2) through Prayer and Sacrament "'This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me."'
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| Strategy 1: |
Conduct frequently holy Hours for Life before the Blessed Sacrament.
The Holy Hour for Life has been prepared by the Josephite Pro-Life, Pro-Marriage,
Pro-Family Committee. |
| Strategy 2: |
Pray the Rosary like The Rosary Life: The
Glorious Mysteries prepared by the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. |
| Strategy 3: |
Conduct Novena for Reparations for Sins Against
Human Life available through the Josephite Pro-Life, Pro-Marriage,
Pro-Family Committee. |
| Strategy 4: |
Pray pro-life prayers and devotions during
various liturgical seasons like the Stations of the Cross during the Lenten
Season. |
| Strategy 5: |
Include intentions calling attention to the
matter of abortion during the Prayers of the Faithful at Holy Mass. |
| Strategy 6: |
Organize liturgies featuring pro-life homilies
and prayers of the faithful on Respect Life Sunday and during Abortion
Awareness Month in the Black Community. |
| Strategy 7: |
Participate in the National Vigil Mass for Life
on January 21st in Washington, D.C. and/or organize local liturgy. |
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| Ideal State 2 |
Black Catholics Hear and Share the Gospel of Life
"My people perish for want of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6)
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| Strategy 1: |
Facilitate local study groups to read and
discuss the Gospel of Life by Pope John Paul II using approved study guides
and apply to African-American experiences. |
| Strategy 2: |
Learn exactly what your faith teaches regarding
love, sexuality, marriage and family relying upon church teaching and /or
approved study guidelines. |
| Strategy 3: |
Disseminate news on current events and critical
legislation from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. |
| Strategy 4: |
Observe Respect Life Month in October and
Abortion Awareness Month in the Black Community in June. |
| Strategy 5: |
Observe Mother's Day and Father's Day with a
special emphasis on the sacred gift of life and love from our parents. |
| Strategy 6: |
Organize forums or presentations addressing the
subject of abortion and its disproportionate and destructive impact upon
African-Americans. |
| Strategy 7: |
Launch an online newsletter covering the latest
news and activities of local Black Catholics promoting the Gospel of Life. |
| Strategy 8: |
Host regional Building A Culture of Life
Conferences sponsored by the Josephite Pro-Life, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Family Committee. |
| Strategy 9: |
The National Black Catholic Congress increases
and intensifies its programming in forming and catechizing Black Catholics
about the Gospel of Life. |
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| Ideal State 3 |
Black Catholics Publicly Proclaim and Bear Witness to the Gospel of Life
"The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground." (Genesis 4:10)
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| Strategy 1: |
Organize prayer vigils and sidewalk counseling outside abortion clinics particularly within African-American communities and with a distinctive African- American approach, e.g. singing and giving witness. |
| Strategy 2: |
Participate actively in national and local diocesan advocacy networks that address legislation and other important areas to protect children in the womb. |
| Strategy 3: |
Challenge acceptance and popularity of abortion and contraception through letters to the editors, editorials, bulletin boards, and blogs in media and forums particularly those serving African-Americans communities. |
| Strategy 4: |
Facilitate and/or participate in Local Life Chains particularly within African-American communities to demonstrate local grass-root support for the Gospel for Life. |
| Strategy 5: |
Mobilize Black Catholics to participate in the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. or the Walk for Life on the West Coast. |
| Strategy 6: |
Participate in the Rally for Life and Youth Mass on January 21st at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. |
| Strategy 7: |
Black Catholics bishops, priests, and deacons increase and intensify their public and active involvement in proclaiming and bearing witness to the Gospel of Life. |
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| Ideal State 4 |
Black Catholics Build a Culture of Life through
Greater Service and Support
"For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)
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| Strategy 1: |
Launch ministries of friendship and support within and/or among parishes for women facing crisis pregnancies and their families like The Gabriel Project particularly within African-American communities. |
| Strategy 2: |
Organize programs or activities to raise monetary and/or material support for local ministries and organizations serving crisis pregnant women. |
| Strategy 3: |
Help local pro-life pregnancy centers obtain medical personnel and ultrasound equipment to conduct sonograms for crisis pregnant women. |
| Strategy 4: |
Urge parishes and individuals to adopt local pro-life pregnancy centers particularly those serving African-American clientele. |
| Strategy 5: |
Advertise and encourage volunteering with local pro-life pregnancy centers particularly those serving African-American communities. |
| Strategy 6: |
Cultivate leadership in the direction, management, administration, and/or operations at local pro-life pregnancy centers. |
| Strategy 7: |
Open and operate local pro-life pregnancy centers when needed particularly within African-American communities. |
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| Ideal State 5 |
Black Catholics Help Both Men and Women suffering
Because of an Abortion
"Rachel mourns her children, she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more. Thus say the LORD: 'Cease your cries of mourning, wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward…There is hope for your future." (Jeremiah 31:15-17)
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| Strategy 1: |
Resource Project Rachel, a ministry that helps men and women suffering in the aftermath of an abortion. |
| Strategy 2: |
Display Project Rachel literature and materials about abortion recovery in parishes and other appropriate locations. |
| Strategy 3: |
Receive training to work as a volunteer in offering support and/or making referrals to counselors and/or priests. |
| Strategy 4: |
Organize separate support groups for men and women who struggle with the pain and loss following an abortion. |
| Strategy 5: |
Sponsor local Rachel's Vineyard Retreats provided that they are approved by the United State Conference of Bishops Secretariat Pro-Life Activities. |
| Strategy 6: |
Strategy 6: Sponsor culturally specific, billboard advertising calling attention to the pain and loss associated with abortion. |
| Strategy 7: |
Strategy 7: Help support radio and television campaigns that raise awareness and reach out to men and women hurting from abortion. |
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