Rome, blacks in some parishes cele- brate mass with gospel choirs and practice bap- tism immersion.
Yet, discontent simmers. Some black Catho- lics favor a new canonical rite for themselves, a separate denomination within the Catholic Church with its own liturgy, canon law, and clergy. The rite, if approved by Rome, would make the African-American denomination the second-largest black church in the United States, after the Baptists.
But many black Catholics are wary. There is concern, says Elie,...