The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1940-05-31

by the Servite Fathers In Chicagos
Dear Father May attend
Novena services? I am a Catholic
but colored. According to Catholic
teaching, the color of my skin
should make no difference. But 1t
does. I have been asked to leave
a Catholic Church while attending
Mass on Sunday. have been rele-
gated, along with my colored
friends, to the last few pews in an
other Catholic Church. Perhaps
the ushers felt they were liberal
in permitting this. Many times in
other churches we colored people
have been allowed to receive Holy
Communion only after the white
people had received. We have
heard many sermons preached a.
bout Christ's love for men, His re-
quirements that all His followers
love one another (even love their
enemies). We have heard and stu
died the thrilling doctrine of the
Mystical Body of Christ, which
teaches the Fatherhood of God and
the universal Brotherhood of Man.
But when we colored people try to
apply these doctrines to life, when
we dare hope for something more
than sneer of contempt or a pity
ing glance from fellow Catholics,
what do we receive? The privilege
of segregation in Gods house.
Christ, the Son of God, doesn't hes
itate to enter our hearts in Holy
Communion, but Catholics can't or
won't sit next to us. Do I have Ca
tholic theology mixed up, Father,
when I believe the state of sancti-
flying grace makes all of us chill
dren of God, united in intimate
bonds of love with Christ? And If
the grace of God flows through
our souls like sap coursing through
the branches of vine, Christ did
say, II am the vine, you are the
branches"), then aren't we all one
with Christ, whether colored or
white? It's beautiful doctrine,
Father, but it's dynamite in prac-
tice. How do you explain the I'M
just treatment of colored people
by Catholics? We almost give up
hope of convincing the pagans to
treat us as individuals, but Cathol-
les should be more kind. I'm not
bitter, Give learned to forgive as
Christ does) I don't want to start
controversy; I realize the faults
we colored people have, but all
peoples have faults and yet are
not condemned entirely; I know
well all the tiresome objections
and alleged reasons why we COL
ored must not be treated as equals.
I'm sick of all that; I'm hurt,
dazed, confused. One question
drums in my ears. Why can't we
be treated As Individuals Why
must Catholics follow pagan phil
osophy and scorn us as if we were
nothing better than glorified ami
mails? Why, in a word, aren't we
loved as brethren, fellow members
of Christ's Mystical Body? If the
Sorrowful Mother accepts me as
her child, (your Novena teaches
that, why can't Catholics accept
me as brother "A Colored Ca
tholic.
The priest to aohom the above
letter aoas ddressed added this note
to it in the magazines
What would I answer? I with
held the name from print, but this
letter presents challenging
question. Think it over, Catholics
and Novenites. It's qestion Christ
will ask on Judgement Day"
In the November 4th issue OF
Novena Notes the foIlo,oing ans
aoer, received from a a0hite Cath
oIic, reader, aous published.
Dear Colored Catholic Your
very fine letter addressed to Fa-
Their Hugh Calkins (Novena Notes,
Sept. 30,) gives evidence of an en-
viable culture, and Of refinement
of feeling.
Father Hugh can't explain the
unjust treatment of Colored pc
opleby Catholics" All he can do is
acknowledge with chagrin, the
truth implied in your statement
A great many so-called Catholics
are merely church-goers, Catholics
in name only. They have no INTEL
igent knowledge Of their faith, OF
its fundamental, Christ-given prin-
ciples. The significance of the fact
that Christ died for all, and for
each individually, regardless of CO.
lor, does not make any deeper i'm
preston than that made by q
vague sound of the words.
Why do aohites Judging from
their attitude) assume that they