Just over 16 per cent of seminarians in England and Wales are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic (Bame) background, according to figures seen by The Tablet, writes Ellen Teague.
Currently 25 of the 153 seminarians are from a Bame background. St Mary’s Oscott, has the highest number – 12 men, down from 16 in 2017 – followed by Allen Hall in London, with nine. In addition there are 10 lecturers and other staff from Bame backgrounds helping to form priests.
Neither the English College nor the Beda College in Rome have any seminarians from a Bame background.
Bishop Paul McAleenan told The Tablet: “There are a growing number of Bame priests, seminarians and permanent deacons in England and Wales.
“Through actively fostering and encouraging vocations among our Bame communities we provide not only priests and deacons but also role models.
“Then we are listening to the cry of those who feel excluded, downtrodden and perpetually sidelined and are responding with a desire to communicate our belief in everyone’s God-given value which must never be undermined. As we know, not only must justice be done, it must be seen to be done.”
Asked about the absence of Bame bishops in the conference, he said: “As the demographics of the Church in England and Wales change the question arises, are the ethnic and racial origins of church leaders reflecting this change?”
Yogi Sutton, chair of the Catholic Association for Racial Justice (Carj), said: “It is very good to hear that 16.34 per cent of our seminarians and deacons in training in England and Wales are from Bame backgrounds.”
She said she hoped they would be supported and encouraged to stay the course, adding: “This good news gives us renewed hope, but it must of course not lead to complacency.
“We in Carj are prepared to work with others across the Catholic community to develop serious training, to educate our- selves in order that there might be real change.”
Bishop McAleenan this week urged Catholics to unite in prayer to remember the anniversary of the Empire Windrush’s arrival at Tilbury Docks.
“This Windrush Day we should unite in prayer and reflection, with a shared commitment to properly recognise the profound importance and value of the UK’s migrant and ethnic minority com- munities,” the bishop said.