Joshua Bennett
The Catholic Church and slavery share a long and complicated history. While the Church has been accused of supporting slavery or failing to condemn it, the reality is that the Church was born into a world where slavery was a social norm and a lynchpin of society. The Church has consistently condemned the practice of unjust servitude, and while it did not abolish slavery everywhere, it did so as soon as it gained the power to. Notably, Pope Gregory XIV ordered reparations for locals in the Philippines who had been forced into slavery by Europeans, and commanded under pain of excommunication that all native slaves in the islands be freed. Furthermore, the Church taught that slaves were people, and they were allowed to be baptised, marry, and be ordained as pastors. However, it is true that individual Catholics, including priests and nuns, owned slaves and participated in the slave trade, and the Church profited from slavery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Church's stance on slavery | The Catholic Church has been accused of supporting slavery and failing to condemn it. However, the Church has consistently condemned the practice of "unjust servitude" and demanded humane treatment of slaves. |
| Catholic Church's involvement in slavery | There are records of Catholic clergy, religious orders, popes, and saints owning slaves, particularly in the early years of the Church. The Church also profited from the sale of enslaved people and used the profits to finance its expansion and institutions. |
| Catholic teachings on slavery | Catholic teachings began to turn against slavery from 1435, and the Church has issued several papal condemnations of slavery. However, there is also a history of individual Catholics supporting slavery and owning slaves. |
| Catholic Church's response to criticism | The Church has clarified its stance on slavery and acknowledged its complicated history with the practice. Some defend the Church's actions by arguing that slavery was a social norm in human history and that individual Catholics' actions do not reflect official Church teachings. |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church profited from slavery
The Catholic Church has a long and complicated history with slavery. While the Church has consistently condemned the practice of "unjust servitude", particularly for economic gain, it has also been linked to forced labour and the enslavement of people throughout history.
One notable example of the Catholic Church profiting from slavery is the sale of 272 enslaved people in 1838 by the Jesuit province in Maryland. This sale, known as "The 272", was authorised by Thomas Mulledy, a Jesuit priest and early president of Georgetown University, to pay off debts and secure the future of the university. The Jesuits were among the largest slaveholders in Maryland, and their plantations were sustained by the labour of enslaved people. The story of "The 272" was largely unknown until recently, when it was brought to light by Rachel Swarns in her book "The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church". Swarns argues that the profits made from the sale and purchase of enslaved people were instrumental in financing the expansion of the Catholic Church in the United States.
The Catholic Church's involvement in slavery also extends beyond the United States. In the 1600s, Ann Joice, a Black woman who was an indentured servant in the British colony of Maryland, had her contract burned, and she was forced into slavery. Over 150 years later, in 1838, her descendants were among those sold in "The 272" sale. Additionally, in the 19th and 20th centuries, up to 30,000 women in Ireland were subjected to forced labour in Magdalene Laundries, some of which were associated with the Catholic Church.
While the Catholic Church has officially condemned slavery and recognised it as a violation of human dignity, there have been instances where individual Catholics, including clergy and saints, have owned slaves or participated in the slave trade. This discrepancy between official Church teachings and the actions of its members has been a source of controversy and scrutiny.
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Catholic clergy, religious orders, and popes owned slaves
The Catholic Church and slavery have a long and complicated history. While the Church has consistently and constantly condemned the practice of "unjust servitude", the complete abolition of slavery in Rome was unthinkable and impractical. The Church was born into a world where slavery was a lynchpin of society, and it has been falsely accused of supporting slavery or failing to condemn it. The fact that some Catholics owned slaves or participated in the slave trade does not reflect the official teachings of the Church.
However, it is true that Catholic clergy, religious orders, and popes owned slaves. For example, Pope Callixtus I (bishop of Rome 218–222) was a slave in his youth. Some Catholic saints also appeared to have owned slaves, including Philemon of Colossae, Gregory of Tours, and Marie-Marguerite d'Youville. The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) owned slaves in pre-colonial and pre-Civil War America, and the Jesuits and other Catholic religious orders have since apologized. Catholic priests were among the largest slaveholders in Maryland and sold 272 enslaved people in 1838 to save what is now Georgetown University.
While the Age of Discovery greatly increased the number of slaves owned by Christians, the response of the clergy was ineffective in preventing the establishment of slave-owning societies in the colonies of Catholic countries. Earlier Papal bulls, such as Pope Nicholas V's Dum Diversas (1452) and Romanus Pontifex (1454), were used to justify enslavement during this era. An early shipment of Black Africans during the transatlantic slave trade was authorized by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1517. However, multiple popes issued papal bulls condemning the mistreatment of Native Americans and "unjust" enslavement, although these were largely ignored.
The Middle Ages witnessed the emergence of orders of monks such as the Mercedarians, who focused on ransoming Christian slaves. By the end of the medieval period, the enslavement of Christians had been largely abolished throughout Europe, although the enslavement of non-Christians remained permissible. In many cases, those who converted to Christianity also decided to free their slaves. Some clergy worked to redeem slaves, going to slave markets to buy captives and then immediately setting them free. By the beginning of the second millennium, entire religious orders were being created for the primary purpose of emancipating slaves.
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The Church's condemnation of slavery
The Catholic Church and slavery share a long and complicated history. While the Church has been accused of supporting slavery or failing to condemn it, there is evidence that the Church has consistently and constantly condemned the practice of "unjust servitude". The Church has also demanded humane treatment and even encouraged emancipation.
The Church was born into a world where slavery was a cornerstone of society. Ancient Rome, for example, was built and sustained by slaves. After Christianity was legalised in the Roman Empire, the sentiment grew that many kinds of slavery were incompatible with Christian justice. Views ranged from rejecting all forms of slavery to accepting it with certain restrictions. For instance, the Christian West enforced that a free Christian could not be enslaved.
The Middle Ages witnessed the emergence of orders of monks, such as the Mercedarians, who focused on ransoming Christian slaves. Catholic teaching began to turn against slavery from 1435, with Pope Eugenius IV demanding that Christians free all enslaved natives of the Canary Islands within 15 days. From 1435 to 1890, a succession of popes condemned the slave trade and slavery. Pope Benedict XIV, for instance, promulgated the papal bull Immensa Pastorum Principis against the enslavement of indigenous peoples of the Americas and other countries. Pope Gregory XVI's 1839 bull In supremo apostolatus also condemned slavery as contrary to human dignity. In 1888, Pope Leo XIII wrote to the bishops of Brazil, condemning the cruelties of the slave trade and commending the abolition of slavery in the region.
In 1995, Pope John Paul II repeated the condemnation of "infamies", including slavery, issued by the Second Vatican Council. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, published in 1994, set out the official position that the Seventh Commandment forbids acts that lead to the enslavement of human beings. The First Epistle to Timothy also condemns slave traders, listing them among the sinful and lawbreakers.
Despite the Church's condemnation of slavery, it is true that individual Catholics, including Catholic saints, owned slaves or participated in the slave trade. Additionally, the Church financed its expansion and institutions with profits made from the purchase and sale of enslaved people.
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The Church's role in the slave trade
The Catholic Church and slavery share a long and complicated history. While the Church has been accused of supporting slavery and failing to condemn it, the reality is that the Church's role was often nuanced and varied throughout history.
Early Christianity rarely criticised the institution of slavery, and the Church was born into a world where slavery was a common practice. However, Christian teachings emphasised the equality of all people, regardless of their status as slaves or masters, and encouraged kindness and just treatment of slaves. Over time, the Church's stance evolved, and it began to ameliorate the harsher aspects of slavery, even trying to protect slaves through laws.
In the medieval period, the liberation of slaves became a common theme in hagiographies, with figures like Saint Eligius and Queen Bathild using their wealth and influence to free slaves. The Church also supported the manumission of slaves and recognised marriage among slaves, further undermining the legitimacy of slavery.
During the Renaissance, the Church's involvement in the slave trade became more complex. While some Church figures advocated for the abolition of slavery, others profited from it. For example, in 1838, Jesuits sold 272 enslaved people to save what is now known as Georgetown University from bankruptcy. This contradiction within the Church, where priests nurtured the souls of those they held captive while also participating in the slave trade, illustrates the nuanced nature of the Church's role.
The Church has consistently condemned "unjust servitude," particularly the enslavement of specific races or for economic gain. However, it is important to distinguish between different types of slavery, as the Church has also permitted certain forms of servitude, such as the involuntary servitude of criminals or prisoners of war, which was considered acceptable in Western society for centuries.
In conclusion, while individual Catholics and Church figures may have owned slaves or supported the slave trade, it is not indicative of the official teachings of the Catholic Church. The Church's overall role in the slave trade is complex and varied, reflecting the changing social and historical contexts of the time.
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The Church's early opposition to slavery
The Catholic Church and slavery share a long and complicated history. Slavery was practiced and accepted by many cultures and religions worldwide throughout history, including ancient Rome. After Constantine legalised Christianity within the Roman Empire in 313, Church teachings on charity and justice began influencing Roman laws and policies. The Church has consistently and constantly condemned the practice of "unjust servitude", which usually entailed the enslavement of a particular race or for economic gain.
The Church was born into a world where slavery was a cornerstone of society. Imperial Rome was built and sustained on slaves; the complete abolition of slavery in Rome was unthinkable and impractical. Early Christianity rarely criticised the institution of slavery. The Pentateuch gave protection to fugitive slaves, but the Church often condemned slaves who fled their masters and refused them Eucharistic communion. However, some Church fathers, such as Gregory of Nyssa and John Chrysostom, strongly denounced slavery. Some early Christians liberated their slaves, while some churches redeemed slaves using the congregation's common means. Some Christians even sold themselves into slavery to emancipate others.
The Middle Ages witnessed the emergence of orders of monks such as the Mercedarians, who focused on ransoming Christian slaves. Antislavery doctrines began to appear in Christian theology soon after the decline of Rome, accompanied by the eventual disappearance of slavery in all but the fringes of Christian Europe. When Europeans instituted slavery in the New World, they did so over strenuous papal opposition. As early as the seventh century, Saint Bathilde (wife of King Clovis II) became famous for her campaign to stop slave-trading and free all slaves. In 851, Saint Anskar began his efforts to halt the Viking slave trade.
The failure to recognise these distinctions between types of servitude has led many scholars to falsely declare that the Church failed to condemn slavery. It is ironic that the Church is falsely accused of either supporting slavery or failing to condemn it when the wholesale enslavement of Christians by Muslims is largely ignored. The fact that some Catholics owned slaves or participated in the slave trade does not reflect the official Church teaching.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church has been accused of supporting slavery or failing to condemn it. However, the Church has constantly condemned the practice of "unjust servitude", which usually entailed the enslavement of a certain race or for economic gain. The Church has also demanded humane treatment of slaves and encouraged their emancipation.
Yes, some individual Catholics did own slaves and participated in the slave trade. For example, in 1838, Jesuit priests sold 272 enslaved people to save what is now known as Georgetown University from bankruptcy.
The Catholic Church's stance on slavery has evolved over time. Initially, the Church tolerated certain forms of slavery, such as debt slavery and just title servitude. However, the Church has consistently taught that slaves and masters are equal in the eyes of God and that masters must treat their slaves with kindness and justice. Over time, the Church has moved towards a more absolute condemnation of slavery, with Pope Leo XIII changing the Church's teaching on slavery in the 19th century.
Yes, the Catholic Church financed its expansion and institutions with profits made from the purchase and sale of enslaved people. The Church also benefited from slave labor on plantations in Maryland that sustained Jesuit priests.
