From the Archives

Given the current discussion on racial inequality and its consequences, and in light of Archbishop Coakley’s prayer to protect life and end the sin of racism, understanding the Catholic Church’s response to racism historically in Oklahoma is imperative.
 
From the beginning, there was an outreach to African American residents in towns such as Langston, Guthrie and Boley by Saint Katharine Drexel, who provided funds for churches and schools. Saint Katharine was a firm believer in education for those who might not have the opportunity otherwise. Predominantly black parishes were established, mimicking the model of national parishes for incoming immigrants. In the next issue, the results will be examined.
 
With the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954, Gov. Raymond Gary urged all Oklahomans to accept public school integration or risk a loss of state funds. In the same year, Bishop Eugene McGuinness, of the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, proclaimed that segregation in Catholic schools would be prohibited.
 
As the Civil Rights Movement gained steam and national exposure, Oklahoma priests became intimately involved. Father Robert McDole, who had been a convert of Bishop Reed’s when he served as pastor in Stillwater, began to participate in sit-ins at a cafeteria where African Americans were not served. Father McDole was arrested on Jan. 14, 1961, for his part in the protest, the first case in the United States where a priest had been detained for his actions.
 
Bishop Reed was not overjoyed that one of his priests had been arrested, yet he maintained that the seemingly radical stance of Father McDole and other clerics was found in the teachings of the Church, more specifically in Pope John XXIII’s encyclical “Mater et Magistra.” In it, the Holy Father spoke of how social teachings could become reality. With the transfer of Father McDole to Ponca City, Father William Skeehan and Father Edward Jeep continued to join the Saturday protests with Bishop Reed’s blessing.
 
In March 1961, Bishop Reed delivered a talk at the first Catholic Interracial League workshop stating, “Every Christian believes that Christ was the Redeemer and that he made no distinction among men. ... Redemption of the whole human race has no exception.” Referring to the arguments of the restaurant owners during the sit-ins he had this to say, “There are all kinds of people who seem to think that property rights are more important than human rights.” He had thrown down the gauntlet and the Church in Oklahoma would never be the same.
 
Bishop Reed’s unquestioned support of civil rights would allow for priests and nuns to be at the forefront at protests and meaningful events such as Selma – 1961 was merely the beginning.