The Brooklyn Diocese seeks mediation to universally resolve more than 1,100 child sex abuse cases, following a wave of filings under the New York Child Victims Act. A lawsuit against the late Black Catholic bishop Guy Sansaricq is among the pending cases. www.blackcatholicmes...

Leading the statement is Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, who has recently faced criticism for refusing to support the abolishment of ICE. Rep. Espaillat, however—an Afro-Dominican who chairs the Congressional @hispaniccaucus.bsky.social—has openly called for the agency to be "dismantled".

Catholic Democrats in Congress have condemned the White House's immigration enforcement and are calling for consideration of the Church's social teaching to guide reform. Black Catholic Reps. Adriano Espaillat and Gabe Amo signed onto a new statement. www.blackcatholicmes...

Archbishop James Checchio started his tenure in New Orleans by visiting the tomb of Venerable Henriette DeLille, foundress of the Holy Family Sisters. The Black Creole mother general is among the seven African-American Catholics on track for sainthood. www.blackcatholicmes...

Wynton Marsalis, the founding director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, will step down in 2027 after 40 years helping to popularize jazz as a standard American art form. The Catholic-raised virtuoso won a Pulitzer—the first for jazz—with the JALC band in 1997. www.blackcatholicmes...

"When a White physician works with a Black patient, it is likely that the physician will not listen adequately to the patient and that the patient will be (understandably) wary of what the physician might say or do. This... can result in disaster."

The tragic stories of Dr. Janell Green Smith and Karrie Jones have recently reminded us that racism remains a feature of American medicine, shown forth in Black maternal healthcare disparities. Briana Jansky says the ancient past can show us a better way. www.blackcatholicmes...

"You must take the time to wonder about all the what ifs? Did I show kindness in a time of need? Did I take care of the sick and wounded? Did I love and share my love with others? And the biggest what if; Did I ask God for His forgiveness." www.blackcatholicmes...

The 1997 short "Champagne" from Michael Sporn tells of a Black girl navigating life as the daughter of an incarcerated mother, being raised by Catholic nuns. Simoa Barros reflects on the film, calling it a powerful reflection on compassion and resilience. www.blackcatholicmes...

"The communal nature and celebrations of birds are likely to be instructive, [but] their singing is of particular importance... The natural ability birds possess for music in general and song in particular should inform how Catholics think about theology." www.blackcatholicmes...

Christian solidarity with the oppressed is a longstanding tradition, featuring the likes of Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King Jr., and countless others. Dr. Malcolm K. Oliver writes that their example is much needed amid the ongoing moral crisis in America. www.blackcatholicmes...

The new Archbishop of New York, Ronald Hicks, will soon be installed in one of the nation's largest Catholic jurisdictions—and he has his work cut out for him. Félix Cepeda says he can start by learning the culture and avoiding becoming a culture warrior. www.blackcatholicmes...

A South African cardinal has newly denied claims of "White genocide"—which Trump has used to justify refugee resettlement for hundreds of Afrikaners. The U.S. program continues even as the White House blocks immigration from various distressed countries. www.blackcatholicmes...

"The album 'A Tribute to the King of Zydeco,' honoring the late Black Catholic singer-songwriter and accordionist Clifton Chenier, won for Best Regional Roots Music Album—a category frequently dominated by Louisiana artists, including several featured on the Chenier tribute LP."

The 2026 Grammy Awards featured star-studded tributes and a near sweep of the major categories by Black and Latino artists. A number of Catholic-raised Black artists—including Jon Batiste and Cynthia Erivo—were also winners on music's biggest night. www.blackcatholicmes...

Government and civil infrastructure in Haiti remain crippled amid a yearslong armed insurgency and the fallout of a devastating 2010 earthquake, while Trump admin officials—latching onto the president's racist claims about the country—remain unmoved despite legal challenges.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for U.S. Haitian refugees is set to expire Feb. 3, with the Trump White House claiming conditions have improved on the island. Advocates and experts say otherwise, seeking an injunction to stop a likely deportation effort. www.blackcatholicmes...

Black History Month is almost upon us, and Catholic organizations and experts are leading events around the country to celebrate an international diasporic heritage and legacy. We've got you covered with our handy national listing. www.blackcatholicmes...

"When our clergy refuse to directly confront and name those in authority or systems they protect, they forfeit their prophetic responsibility to call out the oppression of historically neglected and marginalized groups. This type of ecclesial omission has to change..."

With every new statement from Catholic leaders on the current U.S. crisis, the question emerges: Is neutrality enough? Efran Menny writes that the answer, according to the Biblical and African-American prophetic witness, is a resounding negative.

The Diocese of Jackson will host a closing ceremony for the diocesan phase of the sainthood cause for Servant of God Thea Bowman, the pioneering African-American religious sister who helped lead the Black Catholic Movement. www.blackcatholicmes...

"We continue to be confronted with a callous disregard for human life and dignity, driven by racism and xenophobia that targets Black and Brown people." The Josephites, a Catholic religious community serving African Americans, on the killing of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

The Fort Mose Jazz and Blues Series will return to St. Augustine, Florida—the nation's oldest city—in February, benefiting the preservation of the fort where Afro-Spanish Catholics founded the first free Black settlement in the future United States. www.blackcatholicmes...

U.S. Rep Troy Carter of Louisiana, a close friend of Laroche's, described him as an "extraordinary faith leader who spread love, compassion, and hope", while a statement from XULA said his ministry "profoundly shaped the spiritual life" of the nation's Catholic HBCU.

Fr Victor Laroche, a Dominican priest who served as chaplain at Xavier University of Louisiana, died suddenly this month in New Orleans. He was 66 years old. No cause of death was released for the Haitian-born cleric, who had recently gone on sabbatical. www.blackcatholicmes...

DHS secretary Kristi Noem says her dept will investigate Pretti’s killing. As of Sunday, Noem, Border Patrol head Greg Bovino, and FBI director Kash Patel have already publicly blamed Pretti for his own death—as have Trump, Vance, Stephen Miller, Pete Hegseth, and Pam Bondi.

"A message: Love your people & you will die. Yet our greatest threat isn't the outsiders among us, but those among us who never look within. Fear not the those without papers, but those without conscience." (From "For Alex Jeffrey Pretti" by Amanda Gorman)

Amanda Gorman's "For Alex Jeffrey Pretti" laments the Saturday killing of a 37-year-old Minnesota ICU nurse by Border Patrol. The Catholic-raised poet is among many calling for national introspection as the Trump White House doubles down on violence. www.blackcatholicmes...

"Sinners", from Catholic-educated director Ryan Coogler, tied the Academy Awards record for the most individual Black nominees from a single film, and produced 10 of the 14 Black nominees overall in the 2026 field.

Autumn Durald Arkapaw, an Afro-Filipina descended from Black Creoles in Louisiana, has become the first non-White woman nominated for Best Cinematography at the Oscars. Hers is one of the record 16 nominations for the 2025 blockbuster hit "Sinners". www.blackcatholicmes...

‘[I]mmoral and inhumane gloating is a feature of the … movement, … a reflection of … growing Christian nationalism …. This is not business as usual …. We have people, children of Almighty God, … fearing for their lives at the hands of those Bishop Barron and others would like us to normalize.’

"As we celebrate his life and musical legacy, we give thanks to God for his incredible gift to the world and for giving the Black community another way to musically express both its pain and triumph. May 'Total Praise' continue to move us through the challenging times that await us."

Richard Smallwood's impact on the Black Church cannot be overstated, and his passing has elicited an international wave of condolences acknowledging his legacy. Samantha Smith writes that he belongs in the upper echelon of American Christian memory. www.blackcatholicmes...

Carmen de Lavallade, a pioneering African-American dancer and choreographer who broke racial and artistic barriers, died at 94 in December after a short illness. The Catholic-raised Creole was among the first Black ballerinas at the Metropolitan Opera. www.blackcatholicmes...

"ICE agents are the enforcers of the rampant dehumanization of migrants, which Trump and his MAGA movement strive for... You would expect prominent Catholic influencers to show preferential treatment to the poor and oppressed [and] do their job of leading the Church toward the values she espouses."

Unhinged immigration enforcement has led to dozens of deaths under President Trump, as armed ICE agents act with impunity like slave catchers of an era thought long gone. Tulio Huggins writes that the tepid response from Catholic leaders is scandalous. www.blackcatholicmes...

One is dead and three injured after a Friday shooting at historic Dooky Chase's in New Orleans, where an assailant opened fire while chasing a former employee of the Black Catholic-owned restaurant. The perpetrator is still at large as police seek leads. www.blackcatholicmes...

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s nonviolence was born from years of formation as a mentee of Howard Thurman and reader of Gandhi, two figures with wide-reaching legacies. Dr. Malcolm K. Oliver writes that we too must learn from King's philosophical formation. www.blackcatholicmes...

Strap in for a delightful new episode of the BCM show with the inestimable Fr Samuel Davis, Eric T. Styles , Rev. Dr. Ebony Grisom, and yours truly. Give it a listen wherever you get your podcasts.

During this 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, it is apt to consider the Black American experience as a nexus point for constructive ecumenism in the 21st century. So we did exactly that on the latest episode of the Black Catholic Messenger show. www.blackcatholicmes...

The project faced several delays, including the global COVID-19 pandemic, before finding a partner in Metanoia—a Baptist-led nonprofit that owns the 105-year-old educational grounds where the new Catholic school will serve low-income students.

Cristo Rey Charleston High has broken ground at the historic Old Chicora Elementary site in North Charleston, setting off a new phase in a project dating back to 2019. Opening in 2027, it will be the only Catholic high school in the largely Black city. www.blackcatholicmes...

"Black Catholic heritage overflows with examples of prophetic truth-telling. In a stirring 2020 address... Bishop Fernand Cheri III, OFM said of the U.S. Church: 'We are comfortable with death, weapons of violence, and greed, but not the profound, revolutionary life of Jesus.'"

The witness of Black Catholics has long sustained the U.S. Church, including in times of great social upheaval due to racism and greed. Daryl Grigsby writes that, under a new regime, we are once again in need of the community's prophetic voice and witness. www.blackcatholicmes...

The killing of Renée Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis has conjured up memories of similar police brutality incidents around the country. Robert Alan Glover writes of an eerily similar shooting in Ohio one decade ago. www.blackcatholicmes...

For my Catholic people: don't forget to support Black Catholic Messenger (@blackcatholicmessenger.org)

Whatever you may hear on TV, solidarity with the oppressed is non-negotiable for anyone who believes in the Gospel. Regardless of what any majority might think..honoring the dignity of all people is an imperative to any1 who professes the Catholic faith. That is not liberalism. That is Christianity.

Since 1981, EWTN has grown to become a dominant Catholic media voice promoting a right-wing vision for the future of America and the Church. Jack Champagne writes that the distortions inherent therein were on full display in a recent political poll. www.blackcatholicmes...

"Dr. Pratt’s work is an unapologetic statement in scholarly form that we, #Black #Catholics, are here and we matter... This [book] is essential to a salient conversation at the intersection of #Race and #Religion, especially here in the United States." ~Black Catholic Messenger @tiaphd.bsky.social