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The Rev. Christopher Lee Coleman is a professor of sociology at St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn, New York. He is also assigned as a parochial vicar in the churches of Our Lady of Victory, Holy Rosary and St. Peter Claver. These Churches are in the Parish of St. Martin de Porres. He is a former student at the City University of New York, where he completed his doctorate in Sociology. Father Coleman is a member of the board of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus. He was the keynote homilist at the 2009 Youth JAM for Jesus. He has agreed to answer some questions for the readers of the column "Religion and Society" of the newspaper Haiti Observateur and for the friends of The National Center. Good Morning Father Coleman. Your education and your career as a professor of sociology are impressive. Could you tell us something about the origins of your priestly vocation and your early education? The origins of my priestly vocation comes from being active in my home Parish of All Saints in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I was told by the people that I served that they wish I could minister to them as a priest. My earlier education was in Brooklyn, both in public schools and in The New Catholic High School in the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Brooklyn. My undergraduate degree in Religion, Philosophy and Education was obtained at The Lindenwood Colleges, St. Charles, Missouri. At the 2009 Youth JAM for Jesus, you were the homilist. For those youth who did not have a chance to attend this gathering, could you to give them a brief summary of your preaching that day? My homily at the Youth Jam for Jesus had as its major theme: "Be a Prophet of Positive Change." I used the readings of the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B) For the Biblical resources for this theme. The homily began with the reluctant prophet Jonah who in proclaiming the Word of God to the Ninevites led to their conversion and salvation. At this point in the homily the Gospel reading from St. Mark was referred to. The Gospel reading was the call of the Disciples. The point was made that the Disciples of Jesus are Prophets of Positive Change. The reading from the 1st Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, which was the second reading, helped to explain that to be Prophets of God the change must first occur within oneself. The end of the homily dealt with the modern prophets of Positive Change: Martin Luther King, Jr, Rosa Parks, President Barack Obama, and all of us. We are all called to be Prophets of Positive Change wherever we are! At the 2009 Youth JAM for Jesus, you said change is possible because God is in control. Please tell us how our youth can be prophets of change in today's world? In the homily we used the Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. In it we are reminded that the change must occur within us. I believe that our young people can challenge one another by living lives dedicated to Jesus. They are to be Prophet of Positive Change by the way they live! Could you tell us the biggest challenges facing the black community in Brooklyn, where you grew up? The biggest challenge for the black community is the maintaining of holy and wholesome relationship within the family unit and between people we encounter. There are so many negative models in our society that become a distraction and lead our people into unhealthy relationships. Tell us a little bit about how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired you as a sociologist and a black priest? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Sociologist and a Reverend. He believed that people could change and his belief in people allowed for the social revolution the Civil Rights Movement. His example proved to me that "Yes We Can Make A Difference! As a priest, this is what I try to do.  Father Coleman, please tell us how theologians and sociologists can work together to improve life on Earth? The areas of Theology and Sociology work well together. I have advanced degrees in both areas and they assist me my ministry. The spiritual and the social needs should never be separated. Jesus is the Master Sociologist-Theologian. To be Prophets of Change a working knowledge of both areas is essential. Religion has been used to abuse people, but in reality it was not true Christianity. True Christianity always respects the dignity of people and helps them to reach their potential. The Sociologist and Theologian help each other in meeting the need of each individual and in doing so makes positive change in the world. In a message for the World Day of Peace on January 1, Pope Benedict XVI said that, in order to build peace, we have to fight poverty. As a sociologist, what are your views on this issue? We must not let our people go hungry. Poverty is one of the roots of the violence that we see in society. When people are able to live in dignity they are able to act in wholesome ways. Most people want to live good and upright lives if they are given the opportunity to do so. What do you think should be done to create greater unity in the Christian community? I believe that we must come back to the message of Jesus in the Gospels. This is our common ground and if we allow the Word to be the center of our conversation we can have a more unified reality. What are the social issues facing the Catholic Church in the 21st century? I believe that the greatest issues that we face as Catholics today are the lack of knowledge of who we are as Catholics. We do not allocate sufficient time for Bible Study. We do not teach our history well. We do not have the alternatives in place to counteract the evils in society that prey on our people. We have to know who we are! When we can express Catholic Apostolic nature then we can confront the World and the things that deny the dignity that all people should have. At the beginning of this new century, how can black Catholics speak their faith and witness to the insights that come from their particular cultural perspective, to "share the gift of our blackness with the church in the United States"? First we must allow ourselves to be ourselves with the facet of our cultures. Religion to the black person is life itself. The spiritual world and the physical world are not separated but wholly who we are. We dance, we sing, we praise and all of these things are what we bring to worship. We must share who we are because this is God's gift to us and we are called to give that gift to each other. Could you tell us your views about the state of black Catholics in the United States? I believe that the black Catholic community to ripe for a revival. We have gone through difficult times, as all Catholics have. We have this window of opportunity to make a difference. It is time for our Black Catholic organizations to work together to make a difference in our society. We are well educated and we can help all be successful. However, we can not wait on others to take charge, we have the skills to do these things ourselves and we have the permission from Jesus go out to all nations and baptize and teach everything that Jesus has commanded us. Remember, he is with us. Could you give us a brief description of the board of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus and its mission? The Caucus was organized as part of the Civil Rights Movement in the U. S. The Board is the organizing branch of the organization. It functions as an organization of support of Black Clergy in the Catholic Church. It works along with the Black Catholic Sisters' Conference to assist the needs of the membership and to help Black Catholics in particular and all people in general. The Youth Jam for Jesus is one of our programs to assist young Catholics to be on fire about their faith. What historic events of the 20th century and 21st century have particularly touched you? And why? The Civil Rights Movement has touched me and the 9-11-2001 attack on the Twin Towers in New York City has been pivotal events for me. The Civil Rights Movement paved the way for me to be treated as an equal citizen. The 9-11 experience will always have an effect on me. I worked in a Parish in Brooklyn that was one stop from downtown Manhattan (St. Ann- St George) at the time and I saw people come together as I have never experienced before until the election of Mr. Obama. I know that people can make a difference. Could you elaborate on the social importance of the Eucharist? The Eucharist is the Presence of Jesus Body Blood Soul and Divinity in the World. When we know that He is there with us we know that we are loved and that we are called to a holy life. I am alive today because of the Eucharist. My weekly going to Mass, as a young adult, kept me focused and out of many dangerous situations that my friends were in to. Some of these friends had early deaths. Finally, Father Coleman, do you have a message for our black Catholic youth? My message is the message of the Gospel: God has called you to a holy life. God has for you true joy and happiness. Know who you are, develop your spirituality and be an instrument in making positive change in the world around you. Peace! Thank you, Father Coleman, for agreeing to answer our questions. We really appreciate your generosity in sharing so much of your time with us. Sincerely, |
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My name is Buteau Espiegle (Brother Tob). I am the
public relations director for The National Center of
the Haitian Apostolate, and for its director,
Bishop Guy Sansaricq. You and I met at the 2009 Youth JAM for Jesus,
and I was very impressed with your homily. So I would be delighted
if you could find the time to answer some questions for an interview
that will appear in the column "Religion and Society" of the newspaper
Haiti Observateur, for our web site, and for and the friends of
The National Center. Below you will find my questions, preceded by
a brief biographical sketch that will appear with the interview. 
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