The National Black Catholic
Congress, Inc. (NBCC) released an unprecedented national study of African
American Catholics.
The study, commissioned by NBCC in collaboration
with the University of Notre Dame's Institute of Church Life and the Office of
the President. Notre Dame social scientists Dr. Darren W. Davis and Dr. Donald
B. Pope-Davis co-authored the report.
The NBCC aims to use this survey to better serve
African-American Catholics and their religious needs.
The data from the study will be used by the
National Black Catholic Congress as it prepares to develop its five-year
plan for pastoral priorities at the meeting in Indianapolis July 19-21,
2012. About a thousand participants are expected to attend the national
convention.
According to Bishop John H. Ricard, president of
NBCC, "The study includes important findings about African American
Catholics today. It also provides direction for setting pastoral priorities
nationally and also in dioceses and parishes. The survey is a superb
resource for improving evangelization efforts."
"Close to 900 Black Catholics were surveyed
which makes this a historic study," said Dr. Darren Davis. "African
Americans in general are rarely surveyed and traditionally aren't studied.
This survey is the first of its kind and the largest sampling of
African-American Catholics in academic history."
The survey was conducted July 7, 2011- August 1,
2011, and the report was presented to the NBCC board on November 11, 2011.
The survey compares the religious life of
African-American Catholics, white Catholics, African-American Protestants
and white Protestants. Areas examined were parish engagement, reasons of
faith and satisfaction with the Church.
NBCC President Interview with the Media
For additional information, contact Daniel
Medinger, NBCC Media Representative, 410-740-5077.
The National Black Catholic Congress, Inc.
is an umbrella of support for organizations that share the same purpose of
providing spiritual guidance to African- American Roman Catholics. They
represent African- American Roman Catholics for the purpose of the
evangelization of African Americans, and are committed to the freedom and
growth of African Americans as full participants in church and society.
Survey comments and news articles:
The project was done in collaboration with UND and supported by the generous operational funding that NBCC receives from the Lilly Endowment.
