ST. LOUIS – Six years ago, the Archdiocese of St. Louis launched the “Forgive Us Our Sins” Slavery Project, which explored the history of slavery and uncovered the names of people enslaved by church bishops and clergy in the 19th century.
Released projects 96-page report The findings were initiated by the Church itself and synthesised the study of thousands of documents obtained from research institutions around the world.
“We present the findings of this report with a spirit of repentance so that the work of healing can begin and efforts to eradicate the sin of racism can continue,” the document reads.
The report’s purpose is to “promote open and honest access to the historical record of slavery in local Catholic churches” and to “foster community engagement and encourage dialogue about the many legacies of slavery in local communities.”
The report identified 99 slaves by name who had been enslaved by Catholic clergy, including 44 who had been enslaved by bishops or priests.
The first three bishops of the church recorded as having owned slaves were William Dubourg, Joseph Rosati, and Peter Kenrick.
“The Archdiocese of St. Louis deplores the harmful legacy of slavery perpetuated by past diocesan bishops and clergy,” the report states.
In 1818, Bishop William Dubourg came to St. Louis to build a new church. He was appointed bishop of a dilapidated log cathedral at a time when St. Louis had few residents. According to reports, the new church was an important landmark for St. Louis, and both Catholics and non-Catholics supported the new church and donated funds to build it.
Among these donations, the report states, was one person of color who gave to the church: Flora. Her donation was $1.20, the equivalent of $29.68 today.
Dubourg eventually appointed Joseph Rosati as assistant bishop in what would become the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
The report details many exchanges between Duboge and Rosati regarding slaves.
One exchange was a request from Duberg to Rosati regarding renting a woman identified in the report as 26-year-old “Rachel.”
After Duborg left for Louisiana, Rachel remained in St. Louis, following the orders of a man named Father Edmund Saulnier, who wrote to Duborg about the physical abuse he had inflicted on Rachel as punishment for resisting his orders.
In a letter to Dubourg, Saulner wrote: “I beat her with a cowhide on her bare feet and arms. It pains me very much to do such things, because it is not my place. But no one in the house wants to scold her.”
The report also mentions the racial segregation practiced at the Saint Louis Cathedral, built by Bishop Rosati.
People of color, likely freed from slavery, were segregated in the downtown basilica despite donating funds to the church, according to the report.
The report concludes by naming the many slaves identified in the records found and listing those who were enslaved throughout the construction of the church.
“The slaves identified in this report played a vital role in building the local Church from a small frontier mission to a thriving archdiocese,” the report states. “Their efforts must be recognized and their stories told. This work is not yet done.”
The Commission is still working to identify the unidentified slaves in the report, and there are others who have yet to be located who will be added to the report as the investigation progresses.
“To fully repent and be reconciled before God, we must be open and honest about our sins, both past and present. Only then can we see true forgiveness,” the report concludes.