With the recent events at Annunciation Church and Catholic School in Minnesota, Católicophobia is on the rise in the United States. The tragic event that led to the death of two innocent children and with the suffering of multiple injuries of 14 minors and 3 adults, it serves as an example of rising hatred toward the Catholic community. Yet, the question begs, why is this happening? Also, what is Católicophobia?
What is Católicophobia?
Católicophobia, or also spelled Catolicophobia, is the fear, distrust, hatred of, aversion to, or discrimination against Catholics or Catholicism. Like Christianophobia, Católicophobia (Catolicophobia), isn't a topic that is spoken a lot about as most progressive American communities focus on Islamophobia and other groups. However, with this rising trend of attacks on Christian communities, the discussion is rising in the United States. There have been multiple attacks in recent years on Christian churches that are tied to different people with vastly different political views. The most recent one was a Catholic church and school, but others include Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin (2024), the The Covenant School in Tennessee (2023 Nashville school shooting) and others.
As Christianophobia increases, so too does Católicophobia. Christians have faced prejudice in many parts of the world, but historically, anti-Catholic sentiment has been present in numerous communities, including the United States. A notable example is the 19th-century Know-Nothing movement, during which Catholic immigrants from Ireland and Germany were discriminated against and marginalized because of their religious and cultural beliefs. This history shows that Católicophobia is not merely a modern phenomenon—it has deep roots that continue to influence societal attitudes today.
Some anti-Catholic sentiment may stem from historical tensions with centralized powers, such as the Church of England, or from misunderstandings of Catholic traditions and institutions. However, this recent wave of Católicophobia in the United States has increasingly taken a violent form. Católicophobia affects all Catholics and can also harm other Christian communities, which is why it is imperative for both Christians and non-Christians to stand in defense of their Catholic neighbors and protect them from attacks or disparagement based on their faith.
To address Católicophobia, it is important for communities to educate themselves about Catholic beliefs and traditions. Promoting anti-discrimination policies and fostering engagement with Catholic communities can help combat prejudice and improve understanding and respect for Christians in general.
