Families Who Were Sold at Auction to Build the American Catholic Church

If ever there was proof the Catholic Church, or any other denomination in Christianity, has a lock on good morals and justice it is the history of slavery in building Catholic churches. I'll leave aside for now the "Biblical" case for slavery made by Baptists, and perhaps Catholics, of the time. When I see Bishops pontificating on the immorality of abortion it is so fake as to be laughable. The views of Catholic clergy at any point in time is not based on insight into morality but on cultural values and what they perceive as self-interest at that time.

There was debate among the Jesuits around Washington DC about the morality of owning their slaves. Early on, in the 1800's, the strongest internal questions were raised. The Jesuits were determined to put Catholicism into the U.S. and the business opportunities from building Georgetown with cheap labor calcified slavery into the Jesuit operation. 

One of the big business deals done by the Jesuits was in 1832. A total of 272 women and children were auctioned by the Jesuits, tearing apart families. Most of them were sold to cotton plantations further south.

Individuals and families that survived in their new plantation life have carried on a dialogue with Georgetown University for decades. A few years ago, Georgetown University issued a formal apology for the ownership of slaves and especially for profiting from the large sale of humans in 1932. 

This pattern within the Catholic and other denominations is familiar. Behavior is not determined by some higher power of morality but by contemporary standards. After resisting change for long periods of time, the faith surrenders to the obvious and moves on to some new sin or preoccupation. 

It is happening today. There is no solid evidence homosexuality is immoral or even condemned in the Bible. Yet, the final document from the Synod just concluded in Rome avoided using the term LGBT+. This even though its relationship with the denomination was discussed for hours. That it was discussed so extensively was the first step in eventual surrender. Pope Francis is preparing also for the eventual surrender by canning any Bishops that strongly link homosexuality with sin. Clearly, it is no longer in the economic or political interests of the denomination to keep defending the indefensible.

Like the 272 women and children sold as slaves, the cruel treatment of LGBT+ people will eventually be acknowledged, accepted as full members and an apology will be made.