There is a lot of controversy behind the Knight Templar, so probably a scholar could give a better answer than mine, however, allow me to share some light unto the topic.

The Knight Templar was a complete separated order from the Church, many people confuse them to be Catholic or Christian due to their Cross Symbol (and Taking part on the Church Crusades) but their True Cross is different from the Christian or Catholic Cross, The Knight Templar Cross is equally crossed in the middle and there are reason for it.

To be Part of The Knight Templar you had to uphold a specific philosophical Idea (Which was actually considered Blasphemous or Heretic by the Church and of course the church did not know this) not only that but many knight templars were of noble birth and one of the requirements of being part of the Order was that once you were initiated into the Order all properties were now owned by the Order, nothing to do if anything very little to do with race.

They were wealthy, strong and Philosophical(Intellectuals) which is why the Church never trusted them and all the Church suspicious came into reality once they were trying to hire them once again for another Crusade but this times against the Cathers, in which I believe The Knight Templer was secretly protecting and so denied to be part of it. This Compell the Church to Lunch a war against The Templars, having many of their Grand Master Capture and Burn at the Stake.

Some said the Order Flee to sea and Became what is globally know as Pirate, under the sacred symbol/banner of Skull and Bones (Nothing to do with Elitism or whatever), there is more to it but this is just an unjustly summary.

But what it is completely undeniable is that the Knight Templer Had nothing to do with Catholic or Christians (In Terms of Religion or Philosophy) and that race was probably their last thing in their mind when it came to initiating potential candidates.