one cannot understand African American Catholics without also understanding Black Protestants (the racial component) and White Catholics (the religious component).

It might seem ironic for a book interested in African American Catholics to call for more research on White Catholics.

Future studies of African American Catholic experiences should consider deeper explorations of parish life in African American Catholic parishes.

Another missed opportunity lies with understanding aspects of the African American Catholic parish.

African American Catholics who have recently left the Church are in many respects the most disaffected and disenchanted, and they are likely to provide an interesting test of our results.

African American Catholics’ sense of religiosity and religious beliefs are not influenced by perceptions of racial intolerance in their parish. However, perceptions of racism are not inconsequential, as such perceptions are likely to influence overall satisfaction with one’s parish. Thus, perceptions of religiosity and engagement are influenced

We believe that this analysis has helped to advance the discourse on African American Catholics in the Church, perceptions of racial intolerance within institutions, and the challenges faced by White Catholics.

We were able to examine the reactions of African American Catholics who perceive racial intolerance in their parish. Do they shut down, disengage, and contemplate leaving their parish? Additionally, to what degree does experiences with racial intolerance in their parish diminish their religiosity?

Although based on more-anecdotal events, the profile of African American Catholics as aggrieved, disaffected, and prepared to abandon their Catholic faith and community because of racial intolerance is not substantiated in our data. Given the historical treatment of African American Catholics by church officials and parishioners, one can easily