25 The Repercussions of Tolerance by the Catholic Community Lastly, Catholics who did support integration and the fight for equality often faced repercussions by the Catholic community. 13 2 20 02 20 0 A Al lb be er rt t C Cl la ar rk k A Aw wa ar rd d R Ru un nn ne er r--u up p U Un nd de er rg gr ra ad du ua at te e L Le ev ve el l CATHOLICISM'S ROLE IN THE LIVES OF AFRICAN AMERICANS: FROM CIVIL RIGHTS TO TODAY Emma Welch Religion has been vital in shaping the culture of the United States since the onset of colonization. 16 The Struggle to Incorporate African-Americans into the Priesthood Though the Catholic Church prided itself on the interracial nature of its congregation, its clergy remained almost entirely white as "the Catholic hierarchy devoted comparatively little time or money to training black priests or leaders." 7 Randall M. Miller, "The Failed Catholic Mission: The Catholic Church and the Black Catholics in the South", in Catholics in the Old South: Essays on Church and Culture, ed. [Extracted from the article]