Leo Hypocritically Laments The Church’s Past “Support” of Slavery

David Martin | The Daily Knight

Pope Leo again is following the lead of Francis in apologizing for the Catholic Church. He is using the excuse that past popes supported slavery, which of course is not true. In speaking of the transatlantic slave trade in his new encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, he criticizes previous popes for supposedly supporting the enslavement of infidels in centuries past and apologizes for this.

“It is impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many in stark contrast to their immeasurable dignity as persons infinitely loved by the Lord,” Leo said in his encyclical.

“For this, in the name of the church, I sincerely ask for pardon.”

The Church Has Never Supported Slavery

To be clear, the Catholic Church has never once supported slavery in the abusive sense. The internationalists obviously put this idea in his head hoping that he would echo this for the belittlement of the Church. The Church simply acknowledges the reality of menservants and maidservants, which is part of Bible history in both the Old and New Testaments.

Consider the words of God himself through his "vessel of election," St. Paul. 

"Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not serving to the eye, as pleasing men, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God." (Colossians 3:22) Paul also tells Titus, “Exhort servants to be obedient to their masters, in all things pleasing, not gainsaying.” (Titus 2:9)

St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles likewise says:

"Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward."

See here that servants must obey their masters even if they are forward and abusive. This doesn't mean that their abuse is acceptable but simply means that their subjects must obey them in spite of it. The only time that servants must not obey their masters is when obedience means committing a sin or moral fault. 

Leo wrongfully alleges that past popes supported slavery in the cruel sense. There is nothing in Church history that even begins to suggest that masters may abuse their servants. The Bible itself makes this point.  

"Masters, do to your servants that which is just and equal: knowing that you also have a master in Heaven." (Colossians 4:1)

If in fact there were isolated cases of the past where Catholic prelates supported the sale of slaves for political gain, this obviously did not represent the papacy or Church no more than does today’s LGBTQ merry-go-round in Rome. The blame needs to be placed squarely on the individuals without dragging the name of Holy Church into it.  

Hypocrisy

Instead, Leo apologizes for past popes whom he claims legitimized slavery, but he needs to look to himself. It is he and his episcopal slave mongers who are subverting the flock by promoting the slavery of sin. For he promotes the sins of heresy, modernism, synodality, homosexuality, and feminism, which are tying up his flock in ropes of slavery. As Jesus said, “He who commits sin is the slave of sin.” (John 8:34)

A true pope must always endeavor to liberate his flock from slavery, but this is not being done from the Chair of Peter. And though Leo presents himself as a champion of freedom he won’t lift a finger to undo these sinful cords of slavery. For he refuses to condemn homosexuality, feminism, and Vatican II ecumenism that have enslaved the Church under a great delusion that is bringing “immense suffering and humiliation” upon the people of God.

Let him prove himself. Let Leo trash things like synodality and LGBTQ agenda and let him work to restore tradition to the Church as did his predecessors Benedict XVI and John Paul II. For this we pray.