About this episode

This episode examines the historical evidence surrounding Pope Eugene IV's 1435 papal bull Sicut Dudum and its implications on slavery.

For centuries, critics have claimed that the Catholic Church either supported slavery or remained silent in the face of it. But what does the historical evidence actually say?In this episode, we examine Sicut Dudum, the 1435 papal bull of Pope Eugene IV, issued nearly sixty years before Columbus reached the Americas. In response to the enslavement of the inhabitants of the Canary Islands, Eugene IV ordered that those unjustly enslaved be restored to their freedom and threatened those who refused with excommunication.We’ll examine:* The historical context of the conquest of the Canary Islands.* What Sicut Dudum actually says.* Whether Pope Eugene IV truly excommunicated slave traders.* How this document fits into the broader history of Catholic teaching on slavery.* Common misconceptions about the Church’s historical position.Rather than relying on modern talking points, we’ll read the primary source itself and place it within its proper historical context.Primary Source:https://www.papalencyclicals.net/eugene04/eugene04sicut.htmIf you enjoy historically grounded discussions on Church history, theology, and primary sources, be sure to subscribe.If you'd like to donate to our…

People in this episode

Host: Stephen Boyce

Topics covered

• Catholic Church history
• slavery
• papal bulls
• Pope Eugene IV
• historical context
• misconceptions about the Church

Keywords

• Catholic Church
• slavery
• Pope Eugene IV
• Sicut Dudum
• historical evidence
• excommunication
• Canary Islands

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Catholic Church

Books & works: Sicut Dudum

Places: Canary Islands

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