Racism in The Catholic Church; Black Americans & Africans Created Their Own Church in Philadelphia

Monday, 18 November 2024

By: TB Obwoge 

This is a part of a series of racism in the United States Catholic Church. I wrote about Saint David's Catholic Church and I want to first share a comment that someone left on my article accusing me of not being a "real" Catholic because I pointed out the racism in the church.

However not only did I point out how racist and hateful the members were, I also posted about my aunt who worked for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, she watched how Black & Hispanics tuitions were being applied to take care of schools in white suburban areas. 

This money was not even used to upkeep the schools that were in predominately Hispanic and Black areas. Below I want you to read this readers comment, then I will provide you with the link to the aricle in which this person is replying. 

It doesn't sound like you are Catholic.

I am a cradle Catholic. This is universal among Catholics. We don't view it as unfriendliness or hostility. The church is a sacred space where the attention is focused on God. This extends to a mental preparation on entering the church. One's mind is usually focused on prayer.

The philosopher J Budziszewsky pointed to this treatment, which is off-putting and inexplicable to Protestants. On talking to a fellow parishioner, he was told "we didn't want to disturb you."

That tends to be my understanding.

This above comment is comical to me, this person is telling me that white church members can speak to white members but ignore Black members because this is sacred? 

Also one of the members said that immigrants brought disease to the US and were dirty, they needed to be cleaned up. Why was this said? Not only that another white member stopped me and told me that we needed to vote for Trump to stop China. This was all included in the article.

So when members are laughing, inviting others to their home, having a pancake breakfast and beers and bags invents they are being sacred?

According to this person's comment, then why is Saint David's Catholic Church having beers and bags? They have many small group activities but none of the Black Catholics seem to be added to these events. People in the church greet one another, talk to one another but for some reason the few Black members are usually only speaking to themselves or no one at all. 

I ended up visiting a Black Catholic church in Philadelphia, what I found it that most people live closer to Saint David's or other Catholic Churches but drive all the way to the Philadelphia church because it is more welcoming to Black people.

Not only were the people more welcoming and open at the Black Catholic Church but they had a more open and welcoming feeling church. Where white people actually spoke. 

There were a lot of African immigrants as well as African Americans, they sang songs, shared glances of smiles and everyone spoke to everyone. 

I added this song once I posted this video to YouTube, however this is singing and dancing in a Black Catholic Church. However the white Catholic Church has dry singing, where no one looks at anyone or really sings along with the choir. 

Another stark difference from one another, both are Catholic Churches, the fact that many Black members said that they take long drives in order to attend the Philadelphia church because they were being treated poorly in the suburban white Catholic Churches.

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©️TB Obwoge 2024 All Rights Reserved