It’s time the Catholic church recognized Black American saints

Maryland is sometimes referred to as the “cradle of Catholicism” in the United States. But it has not always gently rocked its Black believers. For many of them, being Catholic has often meant keeping the faith despite racism within the confines of the Church. Archbishop William Lori, leader of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, has acknowledged that in a series of pastoral statements in recent years, spurred in large measure by the unrest that followed Freddie Gray’s death from an injury suffered in police custody. He established a Journey for Racial Justice Coordinating Council last year to oversee efforts at reconciliation and healing.