To celebrate Black History Month we want to spotlight collection materials that relate to Black History (you can read our blog post on the papers of Dr. Francis Hammond, Seton Hall’s first Black professor, here). Today we will be highlighting the Bishop Joseph A. Francis collection, and more specifically, his pastoral letter on racism published in 1979.
Joseph Francis was ordained as a priest in 1950 and became the fourth African American Roman Catholic bishop in the country, and the first ordained in the Northeast. Bishop Francis was a pioneering figure in the discussion of race and religion, and one of the first in the Catholic church to openly speak out against racism. In 1979, he authored a significant pastoral letter addressing the sin of racism within both the Church and broader society. In this letter, Bishop Francis unequivocally condemned racism as a sin that “divides the human family” and “violates the fundamental human dignity” of individuals. He emphasized that racism contradicts the teachings of Jesus and undermines the unity of the Body of Christ.
The impact of Bishop Francis’s letter was profound, particularly within the African American Catholic community. It served as a catalyst for dialogue and action against racial injustice in the Church. His leadership and advocacy contributed to the establishment of initiatives aimed at promoting racial healing and inclusivity. Notably, Bishop Francis was instrumental in founding Verbum Dei High School in the Watts section of Los Angeles, a predominately Black community, demonstrating his commitment to education and empowerment. His efforts have left a lasting legacy in the fight against racism within the Catholic Church.
You can explore Bishop Joseph A. Francis’s entire collection here and make a research appointment with the Archives by submitting the form here.