Sisters of Selma
Making the Fight for Civil Rights a Global Catholic Issue
Sisters of Selma:
Source: Archdiocese of St. Louis Archives. This photo was released to the press to run in the May 12, 1965, Sunday edition of the Associated Press. Read the accompanying statement on “The New Nun”
This exhibit presents a unique collection of archival materials from the St. Louis Catholic Archives Collective (SCAC), documenting the pivotal role of Catholic Sisters in the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches of 1965.
Featuring never-before-seen video footage, radio interviews, photographs, and documentary sources, this exhibit sheds new light on how Sisters brought the fight for civil rights to the world stage.
Why is this important?
The decision of American Catholic sisters to participate in the Selma march for civil rights (“to bear witness to change”) marked a significant departure from their traditional roles and signified a pivotal moment in the history of Catholic social activism. This transformative act, rooted in a long history of evolving social consciousness and engagement, was catalyzed by the sociopolitical shifts of the mid-20th century. Before this period, Catholic sisters often operated within a framework that did not explicitly challenge systemic inequities. However, as they pursued higher education, expanded their service ministries, and deepened their connections with marginalized communities, they increasingly recognized the urgent need to address the root causes of social injustice, rather than merely alleviate their symptoms. This recognition led them to challenge traditional boundaries, confront hierarchical resistance, and embrace a more activist approach to their faith that revolutionized the direction of Catholic sisters’ social ministry for decades to come.
This archival collection challenges the common misconception that religion exists in a separate sphere from the rest of life, particularly social movements. We often forget how deeply faith is interwoven with history and the fight for justice.
Religion isn’t just something that happens in the pews on Sunday.
- How do these archival materials contribute to a deeper understanding of the Sisters’ experiences and motivations?
- How did the Sisters’ participation in the marches challenge or conform to their existing roles within the Church and society at large? What were the reactions of their superiors, their congregations, and the broader Catholic community?
- Beyond the immediate impact, what is the long-term legacy of the “Sisters of Selma”? How does their story continue to resonate with contemporary discussions about faith, justice, and social change?
This is not simply a story of nuns marching; it's a story of the interconnectedness of belief and action...
These archival materials offer a unique perspective on the Civil Rights Movement. Join us in exploring how nuns, priests, and ordinary Catholics interpreted the struggle for equality through the lens of Catholicism, and how the movement, in turn, reshaped their understanding of what it meant to be Catholic in the twentieth century.
The Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965 emerged from a deep-seated struggle for voting rights for African Americans in the American South, where systemic disenfranchisement persisted despite constitutional guarantees.
Catholic sisters answered the call to action.
Watch the 2007 documentary film Sisters of Selma: Bearing Witness For Change, directed by Jayasri Hart
Journeys to selma: Where did Sisters Come from?
Despite the potential risks and societal expectations, why did these sisters feel compelled to participate in the Selma march?
In an emotional retelling, sisters recount the horrors of the infamous “Bloody Sunday”
Photos from the Archives
The intense public interest surrounding the Sisters’ participation in the Selma to Montgomery marches was immediately apparent upon their return to St. Louis. Within a day, Sisters Ernest Marie and Thomas Marguerite were featured on KMOX radio’s Sounding Board program, hosted by Bob Hardy.
Listen to sisters respond to callers’ positive and negative comments about their attendance.
The Sisters’ decision to participate in the Selma marches while wearing their religious habits proved to be a powerful and controversial move. The habit served as a powerful and visible expression of their identity as women of faith. Their presence challenged the traditional image of nuns as cloistered figures – for better or for worse – and brought a new dimension to the civil rights movement.
Read the stories that made headlines
A look at the legacies of social activism for Catholic sisters
What conclusions about sisters and social activism can we draw from these archival materials?
Photo courtesy of rscj.org featuring the Society of the Sacred Heart’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) initiative