People, CTA rise up to save historic African American parish in New Orleans

Archbishop Alfred Hughes of New Orleans announced Feb. 9 that the most historic African American parish in North America would be closed as a parish — part of diocesan downsizing after Hurricane Katrina. But the Pastoral Council was never consulted about the closure, and could not even get Hughes to discuss it. Letters to Hughes were urgently requested. CTA national asked members through e-mail alerts and the CTA website to send letters to Hughes (addresses below).

St. Augustine's was the first African American church in the U.S., established in 1842 by whites and free people of color. Free black members bought pews so slaves could also attend Mass. It was the site for Henriette de Lille's founding of the second order of nuns in the black community. St. Augustine's for 150 years was the de facto African American cathedral of New Orleans, especially since all the Catholic churches were segregated through the 1960s. It remains the center of Catholic Creole culture, but also welcomes all races and ethnic groups. Pope John Paul II in 1987 praised its cultural diversity as a model for all parishes.

Since Katrina, St. Augustine's, in a relatively undamaged area, has partnered with service and government agencies offering meals, health care, and technical assistance for reconstruction of homes. Most parishioners have returned, and new residents are moving in.

Parishioners began a round-the-clock vigil outside the church. But when their beloved pastor, Fr. Jerome LeDoux, was ordered to vacate the rectory March 20, a group of young people took the protest to a new level: taking possession of the rectory. They are collegians and young adults who have come to help New Orleans since Katrina with groups like Common Ground.

Begin rectory sit-in

On March 26 at the first Mass at St. Augustine as part of a neighboring parish, Fr. Michael Jacques, the new priest, had 10 armed police officers, in plain clothes inside the church “in case things got out of hand.” Parishioners carried signs in the aisles and chanted protests. Jacques ended the Mass half way through. Parishioners said the many weeks of protest were reaching a boiling point. Seeing the guns, parish council president Sandra Gordon was in tears: “I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone.”

Protests “desecrated” the church?

The story gets worse. The next day Hughes said that even the church building is now closed because protesters “desecrated” it when they interrupted Mass. It cannot be reopened until it is reconsecrated — which would require the protesters to apologize.

Gordon said, "We will continue the occupation. This is our church!”

At CTA News press time March 31, African American Tom Honoré of the CTA board and Anti-Racism Team (separate story, page 4) traveled to New Orleans to meet St. Augustine parishioners and connect them with local CTA activists. Here is part of his e-mail the next day:

Sandra Gordon invited me to join in the stations of the cross Friday evening. When I arrived, a young group of jazz musicians was playing soulful music right outside. I went into that sacred place for the first time. I immediately felt a connection to my dead ancestor slaves and to all of the history embodied in that church. We began to pray the stations. I saw brothers and sisters who were taking up their crosses today to resist church oppression, racism and injustice. At the 11th station, a delegation of limos arrived carrying Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. TV cameras were ready. We completed the prayers and Jesse and Al came to the mike to rouse the crowd: “We are all the children of St. Augustine, regardless of denomination.” Then a second jazz band had us all dancing and singing through our tears. Sandra Gordon gave me a big hug and began to introduce me to reporters and parishioners. The next day I was in a meeting with Sandra and supporters and researchers. It is more involved than meets the eye. People, we have to get on the action train to help the people here. Here is our chance to do real anti-racism work.”

Take Action
• Send protest letters to Archbishop Alfred Hughes at 7887 Walmsley St, New Orleans 70125, or fax to 504 865-0354, or e-mail abpno@archdiocese-no.org
• E-mail words of support to the parishioners through Sandra Gordon: sjgmaj@yahoo.com
• Send letters to the editor of The Times-Picayune (www.timespicayune.com) and to other major papers around the country.
• Watch the CTA website for further actions: www.cta-usa.org