Tapping a Treasure: the Impact of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies on Black Catholicism and the American Catholic Church
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La Salle University La Salle University Digital Commons Th.D. Dissertations Religion, Department of Spring 2017 Tapping a Treasure: The mpI act of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies on Black Catholicism and the American Catholic Church Michele Peseux McCue La Salle University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.lasalle.edu/religion_thd Recommended Citation McCue, Michele Peseux, "Tapping a Treasure: The mpI act of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies on Black Catholicism and the American Catholic Church" (2017). Th.D. Dissertations. 3. http://digitalcommons.lasalle.edu/religion_thd/3 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Religion, Department of at La Salle University Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Th.D. Dissertations by an authorized administrator of La Salle University Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. La Salle University School of Arts and Sciences Graduate Program in Theology and Ministry Dissertation Tapping a Treasure: The Impact of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies on Black Catholicism and the American Catholic Church By Michele Peseux McCue (B.S. Monmouth University; M.A., Rutgers University and La Salle University) Submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree Doctor of Theology 2017 APPROVAL PAGE Name: Michele P. McCue Degree: Doctor of Theology Title of Thesis: “Tapping a Treasure: The Impact of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies on Black Catholicism and the American Catholic Church” Dissertation Committee Mentor: Margaret M. McGuinness, Ph.D. La Salle University 1st Reader: Maureen H. O’Connell, Ph.D. La Salle University 2nd Reader: Junior R. Hopwood, Ph.D. University of Maryland Eastern Shore Copyright © 2017 by Michele Peseux McCue All rights reserved DEDICATION To my grandchildren, Kendall and Logan. It is never too late. CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…………………………………………………………………………………….…. ix ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...x INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………………xii Chapter I. A CHURCH IN CHAINS; THE HISTORY OF BLACK CATHOLICISM IN THE UNITED STATES………………………………………………………………………………………1 The Colonial Church Florida under Spanish Rule Louisiana Maryland: A “Catholic” Colony Catholic Religious Orders The Oblate Sisters of Providence The Sisters of the Holy Family The Church and the Peculiar Institution Hierarchical Support for Slavery The Courageous Few: Nineteenth-Century Catholic Resistance to Slavery The Catholic Slave Experience Reconstruction and Its Aftermath Black Catholic Clergy Black Catholic Laity Legacy of Katharine Drexel The Civil Rights Movement and the Catholic Church Catholics and the Civil Rights Movement The Church’s Response to the Civil Rights Movement An Institute for Black Catholic Studies II THE EMERGENCE OF THE IBCS—FROM THE MAELSTROM OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA (1978-1993) ……………………………………………………………………56 From Pilot Program to an Established Institute Institutional Structures The Early Years of Institutional and Programmatic Development, 1985-1993 The Directorship of Joseph A. Brown, S.J., 1991-1994 III RENEWAL AND NEW INITIATIVES………………………………………………………100 v Challenge: The Xavier-IBCS Relationship Challenge of Recruitment and Fundraising Tensions and Development, 1994-1997 Sister Eva Regina Martin, S.S.F., 1997-2003 Degree Program Developments Certificate and Enrichment Development Sister Jamie T. Phelps, O.P., 2003-2011 Certificate and Enrichment Development Sister Jamie Resigns Pamela R. Franco, 2011-2014 Certificate and Enrichment Programs Maurice J. Nutt, C.Ss.R. D.Min., 2014-Present Issues of Race and the IBCS IV BLACK CATHOLIC SCHOLARS AND THE INSTITUTE FOR BLACK CATHOLIC STUDIES………………………………………………………………………………………………..147 Cyprian Davis, Black Catholic Historian Cyprian Davis and the Gift of Black Catholicism Cyprian Davis and Ecclesial Racism M. Shawn Copeland, Systematic Theologian Copeland and the Gift of Black Catholicism Copeland and Black Catholic Theology Black Catholic Theological Methodology A New Locus for Black Catholic Theology Bryan N. Massingale, Theologian and Social Ethicist Massingale and Racial Justice and Reconciliation Massingale and Ecclesial Racism Davis, Copeland, and Massingale: Some Common Themes In Conclusion: Three “Race Transcending: Prophets V A VISIT TO THE INSTITUTE FOR BLACK CATHOLIC STUDIES……………….....192 Methodology Data Collection The IBCS Visit-Preliminaries Observations The Degree Track The C & E Track Extracurricular Offerings Concluding Thoughts Interviews and Surveys Student Interviews Student Surveys vi Summary of Students Responses Staff, Faculty, and Alumni Interviews Interview Question One: What would you consider to be some of the more significant contributions that the IBCS makes in terms of enhancing Black Catholic ecclesial ministry in the United States? Leadership Cross Cultural Ministry Ministry Skills Black Catholic Consciousness Social Network Enculturation of African Priests Doctoral Degrees The Experience of the IBCS and Why It Is Effective Faculty Recommendations for Attending the IBCS Summary of the Most Significant Contributions the IBCS Makes in Terms of Enhancing Black Catholic Ecclesial Ministry in the United States Interview Question Two: What are some of the challenges experienced by Black Catholic ecclesial ministers and how can the IBCS assist students who will encounter these challenges? The Challenge of Racism How the IBCS Can Challenge Racism The Challenge of the American Hierarchy Working with the Hierarchy The Challenge of Ministry to Latin American Catholics Versus Black Catholics Safeguarding the IBCS Experience Challenges to Black Ecclesial Ministry Forging the IBCS Identity The Challenge of Finding and Maintaining Employment The IBCS Network The Challenge of Being a White Priest in a Black Church The Challenge of Attracting Youth Summary of the Challenges Experienced by Black Catholic Ecclesial Ministers and How the IBCS Can Assist Students Who Will Encounter These Challenges? Conclusions VI THE FUTURE IMPACT OF THE IBCS…………………………………255 The Catholic Church Response to Recent Police Shootings Some Positive Steps The USCCB Response—Tepid Once More Some Hopeful Episcopal Measures vii Bishop Braxton and Black Lives Matter—A Conversation Black Lives Matter and the IBCS The Impact of the IBCS in the Future: Concluding Thoughts The Role of the Hierarchy and the Future of the IBCS APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………………………………………282 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………………………………..322 viii Acknowledgements I am most grateful to Father Frank Berna, who inspired me to pursue my doctorate through his fervent dedication to education and his loving pastoral presence at St. Anthony of Padua, Red Bank. He demonstrated how intellectual curiosity and ministerial caring were a great combination to emulate. I am also very grateful to my dissertation committee, Dr. Junior Hopwood, for reading my dissertation and traveling to my defense; Dr. Maureen O’Connell, for her valuable assistance throughout my dissertation process; and especially, Dr. Margaret McGuinness, who patiently guided me through the process of developing a comprehensible paper that could make a worthy contribution to racial reconciliation. I also thank Father Maurice Nutt, for welcoming me as part of the IBCS community during my visit. Sister Jamie Phelps and Dr. Cecilia Moore were also especially gracious to me during my stay. Along with Dr. Jayne Wilcox and Dr. Kathleen Bonnette, I am proud to have shared my journey with a wonderful cohort of student-friends, who brought joy to an often lonesome journey: Sue Vadis, Maureen Rilling, Miriam Diaz-Gilbert, as well as Mike Burdziak, Michael Sims, and Kyle Thompson. I could not have pursued a doctorate without the support of my husband, Jim. Jim spent the last six years living in a virtual library, while I denied him beach time, mealtime, and basically, time in general. I am grateful for his infinite patience. I am thankful for the constant encouragement of my daughter, Mary McCue (and Courtney), who often read my work and affirmed my efforts; my daughter; Catherine McCue Roe (and husband, Steve), who helped me with several significant computer issues; and, my son, Jim McCue, Jr. (and wife, Daria), who may not have understood my motivation for a terminal degree, but supported me nonetheless. I thank my father, Donald Peseux, who will be happy to note that I have completed my project prior to his 90th birthday in September. I am grateful of the support of my family, in particular, my sister, Pamela Peseux and sister-in-law, Marie Collins, and to my dear friends: Mary Elaine and Howard Hayden, Janice Ferguson, Mary Ann Curley, Cathy Corcione and Dan Ciaglia, Kathy Weir, Mel Bennett, Jackie Callahan, Jane Shaheen, Carol Schulz, Fr. Tony Carotenuto, Joan and Jerry Leary, Rosie Madriz and Gerardo Toledo, Peggy Correa and George Sheehan; my Shadow Lake neighbors; my coworkers and friends at St. Mary, Colts Neck: Jen, Cristie, Matt, Deacon Fred, Deacon Vinnie, Ellen, Catherine, Marianne, Maria, Lauren, and “the Kims,” Suzanne, Angela, and Molly; my co- workers at St. Mary of the Lake, Lakewood, especially Father Mike, Mary Ann, Maria; my St. Anthony’s friends: Fr. Miele, Pat, Pam, Mary Ellen, Aurora, Phillis, Mary Ann, Dorothy, Linda, Ann, Margaret, Tricia, Tina, Kathie, and Jo-Ann. I am also indebted to friends I met through ministry or school: Sr. Gerrie, Merrie, Jen, and Sr. Ann Marie. ix ABSTRACT The Institute of Black Catholic Studies (IBCS) at Xavier University