Slavery and the American Catholic Church

In the 1800s, the Jesuits sold 272 enslaved people to finance their most important mission which became Georgetown University. The author tells the story of these people by following the family of Ann Joice. She was an indentured servant, but when her master destroyed her papers, she became a slave. Some of her descendants like Harry Mahoney helped save lives and the church’s money in the War of 1812, but his descendants, two daughters Anna and Louisa, were sold into slavery. Through the author’s reporting members on the family were able to reconnect and share their story.

I found this story upsetting and difficult to read, but it’s part of the history of what happened to enslaved people and an important book. Although it’s difficult to think of the abuses of slavery as part of the history of the Catholic Church, it’s something that needs to be faced. The morality of slave holding was viewed differently in the 1800s, but it is still hard to understand how the church could preach the Bible and still rip families apart because they were viewed as possessions that could be disposed of.

This is a book that everyone concerned about the history of slavery in the US should read. It is well written and researched. The story is made more poignant because the author followed one family. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for this book.