Catholic Church and race

The Catholic Church and race refers to the teachings, practices and approaches of the Catholic Church in regard to race and racism. The historical views of the Catholic Church on slavery and the Catholic treatment of Indigenous peoples have been major race-related controversies within Catholicism. Although no theologically defined basis for a race-centered slavery from the Magisterium of the Catholic Church exists, the Church has operated in various societies where slavery has existed in some form as an institution, with ebbs and flows of support for emancipation of slaves as far back as the days of the Roman Empire. Typically, in regard to the early modern transatlantic slave trade, critics argue that the Church was insufficiently active in calling for the secular powers to abolish it and point to individual racial prejudice among some members of the Catholic laity. In 2023, the Roman Curia of the Vatican officially repudiated its previous support for the discovery doctrine.

Membership in the Catholic Church and reception of the Sacraments (including holy orders) is open to humans of any race or ethnicity, provided they adhere to the Catholic faith. Historical controversy and debate on the Catholic Church and race often centers on its relationship with Judaism and the Catholic Church's historical hostility to Jews and Judaism. Some Jews and supporters of interfaith dialogue believe the Church's discimination against Jews, in cases such as the Marranos in Spain constitutes antisemitism, while supporters of the Church often categorise this as anti-Judaism (based on religious adherence rather than descent). Many of the debates surrounding this led to Nostra aetate.