NEW ORLEANS (UPI) -- Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans
apologized for the Catholic Church's role in slavery Tuesday as he
released a database of early records.
The archdiocese launched the Internet database, which includes
thousands of baptisms and weddings at St. Louis Cathedral between 1777
and 1801, the (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported. Archivist Emilie
Leumas said the archdiocese hopes to put all its colonial-era records
from 1718 to 1812, when Louisiana became part of the United States, on
line by next year.
Aymond said Tuesday was selected for release of the first records
because it is the beginning of Black History Month. He said he wanted
to recognize the role played by slaves and free blacks in the history
of the church and the church's own record as a slave owner.
Aymond pointed out that the records for slaves do not use family
names, stripping them of some of their humanity -- and also making
21st-century genealogical searches more difficult.
"I apologize in the name of the church because we allowed some of
these things to continue. This is sinful. Racism is sinful," he said.
Copyright 2011 by United Press International
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