The American National Black Catholic Congress (NBCC) held its 13th congress from July 20 to July 23
By Mark Pattison | LaCroix International | United States

The days are over that the National Black Catholic Congress (NBCC) served as a platform to appeal to White Church leaders of their intrinsic worth and value — or of critiquing the U.S. Church’s relationship with the Black faithful, and vice versa.

The 2023 model of the NBCC was instead a celebration of a full-up congress’ Blackness and Catholicity. One example: In a video history of the congress, one Black priest voiced the question many Black Catholics are asked: “Why would you want to be Catholic?” His reply: “Why would we want to be anything else?”