New Bible is aimed at African-Americans

"I've been rejoicing in it -- not just the writing, but the artwork and everything else," she said.

A former parishioner of St. Patrick's Church in Albany, Dr. Hayes is one of about 20 African-American Catholic scholars who wrote analytical articles for the Bible, published by the American Bible Society.

Newcomer

Dr. Hayes remembers being a newcomer to the Church. When she came to the Albany Diocese in the late 1970s, she was a member of the A.M.E. Zion Church and working for the State of New York. Then she felt called by God to convert.

She became a Catholic in 1979, with the support of now-retired Rev. Nellis Tremblay and Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, and went on to earn three doctorates, two of them in theology. She is one of only a half-dozen Black Catholic theologians.

Dr. Hayes now teaches at Georgetown University and Howard University School of Divinity, both in Washington, D.C., and at Xavier University in New Orleans. She has also returned to the Albany Diocese to teach at St. Bernard's Institute, the Diocese's graduate school of theology and ministry, and to lead the annual diocesan priests' retreat.

Contributor

In her article, "Ethiopia Shall Stretch Forth Her Arms: The Evangelization and Education of African-American Catholics," she notes that at one time in history, the Church affirmed African-Americans as human beings but accepted slavery.

"There was an understanding that slavery was not a sin, because it had been ordained since the beginning of time by God," she noted.

But while slavery had existed throughout history, she said, people had once become slaves when they were conquered in war or because they sold themselves into slavery -- not solely based on their race.

"This changed the way the Church looked at the African peoples," said Dr. Hayes. "Having dark skin became a sign of inferiority, and everything connected with having dark skin became a sign of inferiority," including many aspects of Black culture.

God's love

"They were able to get to the kernel of truth: that Jesus came for all humanity," she said. "They sang their spirituality. Look at the spirituals -- they sang of a God of liberation, a God who saw them as [His] own."

She noted that one spiritual that says, "Everybody talkin' 'bout heaven/Ain't goin' there," actually refers to slaves believing their masters wouldn't go to heaven for their treatment of their fellow Christians.

Part of history

A Catholic education has been a ticket to a better life for many African-Americans, Dr. Hayes also noted. Even though schools were segregated until the mid-20th century, "segregated schools, in one sense, were a source of strength, because Black history was not just a month in February. Black history was taught year-round; students were exposed to many aspects of Black culture and tradition they wouldn't have gotten in an integrated school."

Dr. Hayes hastened to say that doesn't mean she supports segregated schools. Instead, she believes Catholic schools should include contributions of all minorities in teaching Church history.

Evangelizing

"Sometimes, in our efforts not to `steal sheep,' we are bending over backwards in our Catholic schools to not proselytize," she stated. "Parents send their children there because of the education, but also because of our tradition. By not including [non-Catholic students] in our religious programs, we are failing, because for the most part, these students are not brought up in a religious tradition -- and they are seeking one.

"If we are proud of being Catholic, we should be shouting it from the rooftops. How can they choose if they do not have choices" presented to them?

Hopeful

She noted that the future will bring an American Church primarily made up of people of color. Already, she said, 30 or 40 percent of Catholics are of Hispanic descent. Together with African-Americans and Asians, they will soon comprise the majority of the Church in the U.S.

"How do we deal with these challenges?" she questioned. "My mantra is, we truly prove ourselves [when we are] welcoming. All are invited to God's welcome table; we have to recognize there's not one way to be Church. Difference is not dangerous."

She sees challenges as opportunities. "There's a window of opportunity opened for us as a people of faith to move further along our journey to God," she remarked. "I'm doing all I can to keep that window open."

(The Good News Bible African-American Jubilee edition is available in hardcover for $39.95. Call 1-800-32-BIBLE or order online at www.jubileebible.org.)

(04-12-01) [[In-content Ad]]