Catholicism Against Slavery

I am going to take this back to when Columbus discovered the New World. In fact let's take it back another 60 years, to when the church first condemned slavery. Pope Eugene IV opposed the enslavement of peoples in the newly colonized Canary islands. He created "Sicut Dudum" in 1435, it scolded European enslavers and demanded that they free all slaves within the period of fifteen days days from where they live. Any male or female who was once a resident of the Canary islands was given liberty. Another rule was that the slaves be let go without the demanding of any money to be set free. I can see slave owners taking advantage of this. 

Nearly a century later Paul III used the same idea in the "Sublimis Deus" when humans were discovered in the west and south indies. Pope Paul talked about the enslavers calling them the devil and wanted justice for the slaves. He made another official document that allowed for him to excommunicate those who attempted to enslave or steal from the Indians. 

There was also a point where Africans were being enslaved as a cheap source of labor by Europeans. Sound familiar to the United States? Anyways, with all these innocent blacks, the Holy Office of Inquisition was questioned about its morality. This practice was rejected. And once again slaveholders were obliged by the Office to emancipate the slaves. 

Now we're into the 1800's. Throughout the 18th and 19th century the Papacy condemned slavery. Pope Gregory XVI in 1839, created "Supremo," it talked about opposition to the enslavement of blacks, Indians, or anyone really. In 1888 and 1890 Pope Leo XIII condemned slavery once again and strived for its depletion in South America and Africa. 

Now I had to talk about something a bit controversial, the Magisterium. It is said that it didn't do enough and was released too late for it to make a difference. Yes, it did go against unjust slavery early on, but it also allowed for whats called "title slavery." Which meant enslaving and forcing work onto prisoners, and criminals, and voluntary servitude of indentured servants. 

When you talk about how the church condemned slavery its hard not to talk about how it defended it. Because the Catholic church was far from perfect and allowed for so much, at different times in history. We can talk about recently, for example 19th century clergy and some bishops tried defending the American way of slavery. The reason, the papal condemnations did not apply to the United States. Take this thought also, Pope Gregory XVI, he condemned the slave trade. But it's up to you to decide if he condemned slavery itself. 

After extensive research on the topic, this is what I have come up with. Writing a blog based on this side of the argument was hard because all I could find... How the Catholic church was for slavery. I went into the blog knowing this, but challenged myself. 

      Conquest of the Canary Islands

Bibliography: 

“The Church Must Make Reparation for Its Role in Slavery, Segregation.” National Catholic Reporter, 15 June 2020, www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/church-must-make-reparation-its-role-slavery-segregation. 

“Catholic News, TV, Radio: EWTN.” EWTN Global Catholic Television Network, www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/popes-and-slavery-setting-the-record-straight-1119.