Rev. Arturo Sosa, SJ
Superior General
Curia of the Society of Jesus
Borgo S. Spirito, 4
00193 Roma, Italia
+39-06-689-771 (telephone)
curgen@sjcuria.org (email address)

Most Reverend Father:
May the peace of Christ be with you.
After many hours and long nights of research, we have official birth records and DNA evidence to show that we are direct descendants of one of the 272 men, women, and children who were enslaved by the Society of Jesus in Maryland at some point during the period 1634—1838. It is with this research we have learned that our ancestors were sold in 1838, by the Society of Jesus operating throughout Maryland. A portion of the proceeds were used to pay the debts of Georgetown College (now Georgetown University), also run by the Jesuits. We have also discovered that the Society of Jesus through the Maryland Mission owned and sold over 800 additional slaves through out the state. These slaves had lived on plantations belonging to the Jesuits in Maryland.

We are the descendants of THOSE slaves.

Fr. Timothy Kesicki, I believe that “[the] shameful history of Jesuit slaveholding in the United States has been taken off the dusty shelf, and it can never be put back.”

With this petition, we ask you to heal a great hurt, right a great wrong, and end a great and growing scandal in the Church.

1. While we, the Descendants of the Maryland Mission Slaves are aware the recent decision of the Society of Jesus to make restitution for the immense wealth taken from the Enslaved Ancestors for the benefit of the Roman Catholic, contend this agreement does NOT represent us or our interest.

2. We, the Descendants of the Maryland Mission Slaves did not participate in the secret talks that led to the creation of the recently-announced “Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation,” nor was an election of descendant representatives ever conducted, therefore we demand that you immediately appoint and send a Jesuit Visitor to the United States, and instruct him to meet personally and privately with the Descendants of the Maryland Mission Slaves, to discuss the matter of restitution payments and reconciliation. 

3. We, the Descendants of the Maryland Mission Slaves have not authorized either, the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation or the GU272 Descendants Associations to speak for us or to make decisions on our behalf.

5. We, the Descendants of the Maryland Mission Slaves formally request that you instruct your Jesuit Visitor to collaborate with the Descendants of the Maryland Mission Slaves in a process of discernment and reflection on this topic, in a manner that is well-structured, thoughtful, open, inclusive, and transparent.

6. We, the Descendants of the Maryland Mission Slaves formally request that you publicly release all information in the Society’s possession documenting how much wealth the Society generated from the enslavement of our ancestors; how this wealth was spent; and how much remains in the Society’s possession today. Specifically, we request you to direct the Trustees of the Corporation of Roman Catholic Clergymen (the Jesuit-controlled enterprise that owned to our Enslaved Ancestors) to immediately make public disclosure of its financial records and balance sheets from 1793 to the present day.

7. We, the Descendants of the Maryland Mission Slaves request you to investigate and establish the truth of all relevant matters; correct what needs to be corrected; and improve everything and neglect nothing that would promote a union of hearts.

You have an important role to play in fostering racial healing between the Society of Jesus andDescendants of the Maryland Mission Slaves. 

On behalf of our Enslaved Ancestors and all the Descendants of the Maryland Mission Slaves all over the world, we request the favor of a written reply addressed and delivered the address listed below:

 

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