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Aubrey Lynch is an accomplished author, scholar, corporate psychologist and church historian who has penned an incredibly profound and eloquent examination of the history of Detroit’s archdiocese and its dubious relationship with the city’s African American Catholic citizens.

Lynch’s celebrated literary work, The Sacred Heart Legacy; Soul of a City details that history with passion and conviction, and is particularly relevant and poignant in light of the current educational dilemma facing Detroit’s residents. Lynch’s book boldly addresses the issue of racism and the church.

On the question of whether or not the Catholic Church has abandoned Detroit’s citizenry via the unprecedented number of church and school closings, Lynch says: “The church is like any other large organization that must depend on it’s customers to pay the freight. When the church was still vigorous ... it sought to broaden its base by including black people. It took the rather dubious position of establishing so-called mission schools amongst the benighted Negroes. To shorten a long story, we are now witnessing the departure of the church due to the impoverishment of black people and the lack of promise for any better future.”

Lynch’s résumé and lengthy list of academic and social accomplishments are a testament to personal perseverance and noble determination. His writings offer a great deal that will aid in the continuing efforts to tell the tales of the black diaspora.

“Suffice it to say ... that the piper must, however, be paid. The consequence is that the Church ... will not be missed by those students who are the victims of the sad decline of a once-effective system,” concludes Lynch. -roz edward

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