1953: Archbishop called for an end to segregation in New Orleans' Catholic churches
Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel called for an end to segregation in New Orleans’ Catholic churches in 1953. The archbishop announced his decision in a pastoral letter, “Blessed are the Peacemakers,” in which he decried the rampant racial segregation of the city’s Catholic parishes and laid forth a new policy of integration.
His words launched a tumultuous decade of resistance from segregationists within the city’s Catholic population.
Rummel led the Archdiocese of New Orleans from 1935 to 1964, and oversaw great change and growth. More than 40 new parishes were founded under his watch, and Catholic school attendance exploded.
As the archdiocese grew, Rummel became more
determined that segregation was not in step with Catholic
principles. He admitted two black students to Notre Dame
Seminary in 1948, and began talks about integrating Catholic
schools and churches in the early 1950s.
determined that segregation was not in step with Catholic
principles. He admitted two black students to Notre Dame
Seminary in 1948, and began talks about integrating Catholic
schools and churches in the early 1950s.
In “Blessed are the Peacemakers,” Rummel wrote, “Let there be no further discrimination or segregation in the pews, at the Communion rail, at the confessional and in parish meetings, just as there will be no segregation in the kingdom of heaven.”
Prominent Catholic politicians, as well as local lay leaders, immediately launched a fight against Rummel’s decree. Though a committee appointed in 1955 recommended integrating parochial schools immediately, the archbishop delayed the move.
On March 27, 1962, Rummel announced that Catholic schools in the archdiocese would officially desegregate in the fall. The public outcry was immediate, but Rummel stood his ground, even going so far as to excommunicate three of the most vocal Catholic segregationists for challenging his episcopal authority. Plaquemines Parish Commission Council President Leander
Perez was one member of the trio. The other two were Jackson G. Ricau, executive secretary of the Citizens Council of South Louisiana; and Una Gaillot, president of Save Our Nation Inc.
Perez was one member of the trio. The other two were Jackson G. Ricau, executive secretary of the Citizens Council of South Louisiana; and Una Gaillot, president of Save Our Nation Inc.
After being excommunicated, Gaillot met Rummel in front of his residence. Kneeling, she asked for the blessing of the archbishop, but did not apologize for her stance on segregation. Of the three, only Perez later recanted.
An integrated class entered Mater Dolorosa in New Orleans for the school’s opening Mass on Sept. 4, 1962. Parochial schools throughout the Archdiocese of New Orleans desegregated that school year.
No comments:
Post a Comment