I am entirely too worked up about this whole #SinodoAmazonico controversy—I blame Catholic Twitter—but I just gots to preach a little!
I've been thinking and reading about Black Catholicism a ton these past few weeks and months, and the parallels are eerily similar, I must say.
I've been thinking and reading about Black Catholicism a ton these past few weeks and months, and the parallels are eerily similar, I must say.
The path to the Black Catholicism found in America today was long and arduous. What came to be seen as White/European Catholicism was forcefully questioned by Blacks galvanized by the Civil Rights and Black Power movements.
African-American styles of worship were forcefully brought into the Church, after much resistance from those clergy and parishioners who felt it impossible that Black worship, influenced by African/#ADOS culture and whatever else, could be authentically Catholic.
Those resistant to culturally African-American forms of Catholic worship seemed not to notice (or to deliberately conceal the fact) that the predominant Catholic form(s) of worship came from similarly secular/cultural sources. Namely European culture.
Thus, on the grounds of this ongoing inculturation by the Catholic Church throughout the world—be it in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Africa, or wherever else—Black Americans cultivated and have sustained their distinctive traditions within the Catholic Church.
Which brings me to Brazil and the #SinodoAmazonico: Why is it that conservative, fundamentalist, and traditionalist White Catholic commentators seem to be missing the point all over again? Anything indigenous/secular is being pounced upon as "pagan", diabolical, and irredeemable.
Even as they flock to White parishes built on European cultural heritage and practice, which itself was once secular and unredeemed before the Catholic Church made it its own. The Church has every right to do this, and yet as they do it in 2019, the Pharisees cry foul. Why? WHY?
Can something appear wrong and yet be permissible, beyond your limited understanding and yet within the wisdom of God and that of the Church's overseers? Can an indigenous community, dedicated to the faith, bring in her gifts and wisdom even if unpleasing to YOUR eyes and ears?
We really have to wake up to the world outside of our own philosophies, preferences, and predispositions. Not everything is for everybody, and that's life. But a cultural melting pot takes on flavors from all cultures. Attempts to obstruct that are attempts to obstruct Jesus.
