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The Catholic Church Played a Major Role in Slavery

August 29, 2025

The article examines the significant role of the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations in supporting and profiting from the transatlantic slave trade. It highlights how religious institutions justified slavery through biblical misinterpretations, particularly the "curse of Ham," while missionaries used Christianity as a tool alongside colonization. The piece specifically details Georgetown University's 2016 acknowledgment and apology for Jesuit priests selling 272 enslaved people in 1838 to financially save the institution.

Who is affected

  • Black Americans and their ancestors who were enslaved
  • Georgetown University and its historical connection to slavery
  • The descendants of the 272 enslaved people sold by Jesuit priests
  • Religious institutions, particularly the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations
  • Museum visitors and the general public receiving education about slavery
  • Educational institutions addressing historical truths about slavery

What action is being taken

  • The article is being republished as part of a series to confront America's painful past
  • Georgetown University has offered a public apology for its historical involvement in slavery
  • Religious leaders like Rev. Timothy Kesicki are acknowledging their institutions' roles in slavery
  • Former President Trump's administration is reviewing museum exhibits and threatening funding cuts to influence how slavery is portrayed
  • Critics are attempting to reframe or minimize slavery's brutality in historical narratives

Why it matters

  • The transatlantic slave trade is foundational to American history, not just Black history
  • Religious justifications for slavery reveal how institutions used faith to uphold oppression
  • Understanding the full truth about slavery's history is necessary for addressing ongoing societal inequities
  • Current political debates about how slavery is taught reflect continuing struggles over historical truth
  • The article suggests that efforts to sanitize slavery's history are attempts to "keep oppression alive"
  • Major religious institutions' involvement in slavery contradicted their purported moral values

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint