African-American Catholics are more actively involved with their faith than their white counterparts, according to a new study by Notre Dame researchers. By almost every measure of religious engagement, African-American Catholics are considered stronger in their faith than white Catholics.,” sociologist Donald Pope-Davis told a meeting of the National Black Catholic Congress.
He reported that on average, African-American Catholics had higher rates of Mass attendance, greater emotional attachment to the faith, and more active involvement with their parishes.
The Notre Dame research yielded one discouraging result. Many African-American Catholics reported that they still encounter evidence of racial bias in their parishes.