This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Black Catholic bishops’ letter, “What we Have Seen and Heard,” a call of action to the church. Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman shared this vision in her 1989 address to the U.S. bishops. In her video address, a few of the letter’s authors – then in their late 30s and early 40s – can be seen listening to Sister Thea’s speech.
Sister Thea shared, “You know, Bishop Jim Lyke said a long time ago that Black Catholic Christians will be second class citizens of the Church until they take their places in leadership beside their brothers and sisters of whatever race or national origin.”
Read more at Black Catholic Messenger.
Watch Sister Thea’s speech to the Catholic bishops below.