Louisiana Cajuns To Dumb To Be Catholic Priests?

Click here to see larger picture and last names of the Seminarians

An interesting article relating to remarks of the Bishop of Lafayette made at this journalist's son Confirmation. See Cajuns were not expected to be priests, bishop says  from The Daily Iberian.

The bishop of the Lafayette Diocese shared a bit of Cajun history at a recent confirmation at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church that makes me wonder whether he or another bishop might be correct.



Last week was son Charles’ confirmation, a wonderful ceremony and Mass. Confirmation is considered the way a young person reaffirms his or her commitment to a spiritual life in the Catholic faith.

During the Mass, Bishop Michael Jarrell told the confirmees that according to the history of when Louisiana was a colony, there were no expectations for the local Cajuns to contribute their own priests. He said he wasn’t sure whether the French believed the Cajuns lacked the intellectual capabilities to become priests, but it was clear that the mother land was to supply the New World with its priests.



That sentiment, the bishop implied, might be why there are so few men from Acadiana who hear the call and pursue the vocation of the priesthood................

There is no doubt there some truth to that. In fact people often  forget ,but the term CAJUN was not exactly a term of praise for a long long time by many. I suppose most have died out by now,  but I met many of a Cajun Grandparent that when growing up  got punished if they spoke French at school. It was viewed as "backwards".  It  was too well into the mid 20th century for some proactive Cajun pride to counteract  that.

Of course times have changed. The Parish most closely connected my name to this history ( The Rajun Cajuns of ULL ) are sponsoring  7 people through Seminary .