Less than human?

The anthropology professor mentioned last time, subsequently commented that he had been raised Catholic but was no longer practicing.  The implication was that, in his later years, he became “enlightened.”  This tactic is often used to enhance credibility.  Not only is he a renowned professor, being “raised Catholic” he must be an expert on Catholicism.  He then asserted (speaking to a group of seniors touring Peru), “The Catholic Church taught that indigenous people were less than human and indigenous converts could not be priests.”  Forgoing the contradiction in why, if they were considered “less than human,” any indigenous person would embrace such a church much less want to be a priest, I raised my hand. “Do you have a citation for a Church document supporting this assertion?”

“No, I don’t have a citation. It is a well-known fact.”  “As a professor, would you accept a student’s mere assertion without corroborating evidence?” “Moving on…” No conversions but the faith had been defended – as best I could.  That night – after a mere minute of “Googling” – I emailed the professor:

Dr. Decoster,

The following is submitted for your consideration:

“Pope Gregory XVI, challenging Spanish and Portuguese sovereignty, appointed his own candidates as bishops in the colonies, condemned slavery and the slave trade in 1839 (papal bull In supremo apostolatus), and approved the ordination of native clergy in spite of government racism.” [emphasis added]

Saints and Sinners (1997) p 221; Eamon Duffy, professor of the history of Christianity and fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge.

(To be continued…)