Black theologians publish bible for Catholic youth

Many bibles, like the Original African Heritage Edition,
are written from a Black perspective.

The African American Catholic Youth Bible®, the first Catholic bible especially designed for African American youth ages 14 to 22, has been published by Saint Mary's Press in collaboration with The National Black Catholic Congress, Inc.

According to Amazon.com, the bible uses "inspirational black art and commentaries on biblical events and personalities from an African American perspective. It chronicles major events in African American Catholic history and includes moving stories of African American holy men and women."

The editors are James Chukwuma Okoye and Ansel J. Augustine. Okoye is a Catholic priest and director of the Center for Spiritan Studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburg, Pa. Okoye holds a Masters Degree and Doctor of Philosophy from Oxford University.

Augustine earned a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University of New Orleans and is certified in Black Catholic Studies.

It is estimated that there are three million Black Catholics living in the U.S. On July 24, 1990, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States designated November as Black Catholic History Month to celebrate the history and heritage of Black Catholics. 


Most Reverend Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory
leads Catholics in Atlanta.  (Photo by Tomi Johnson)