The Jesuits in the United States owned slaves.
In 1838, the Jesuits sold 272 men, women, and children and used some of the proceeds to support Georgetown University.
In 2015, Georgetown President John J. DeGioia established a Working Group on Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation, which led to dialogue with and apology to Descendants and key efforts to address the legacy of slavery and overcome racism at Georgetown, in Washington, and beyond.
On March 15 of this year, U.S. Jesuits and descendant leaders announced the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation, which will support the educational aspirations of Descendants of Jesuit slaveholding and racial healing efforts in the United States.
At a time of national reckoning on racism and dialogue on how to pursue justice, this Initiative Dialogue explored personal, religious, and institutional responsibilities for the legacy of slavery and the reality of structural racism. The dialogue around institutional responses to enslavement has raised important questions, offered new possibilities for collaboration, and new paths forward for our nation and the U.S. Catholic Church. Key questions included:
- In light of the verdict in the Chauvin trial, what are obligations and opportunities for action to advance justice, overcome racism, and live out Gospel values and Catholic teaching on the equal dignity of all?
- What does it mean today for the Jesuits and the Catholic Church to have sold men, women, and children 150 years ago?
- What are the responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities in owning this history, pursuing racial justice, and seeking reconciliation today?
- What are some lessons, directions, and challenges for the Jesuits, Georgetown, Descendants, as well as the Church and nation, in engaging institutional responsibility for the legacies of slavery and combatting the ongoing impacts of structural racism?
John Carr, co-director of the Initiative, moderated this dialogue.
Resources
View a list of articles, books, podcasts, and other resources for this dialogue.
An earlier “save the date” announcement for this dialogue inadvertently suggested that Shannen Dee Williams was a part of developing the new Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation and would be discussing that development in this dialogue. The Initiative regrets this miscommunication.
Photo credit: Georgetown University Library.
