The doctrine of discovery was a combination of 3 Papal Bulls not merely authorizing but mandating not only the imperialist theft of lands from indigenous people, but genocidal cultural and spiritual warfare against those people to destroy their culture, way of life and religion and replace it by some form of feudal Christian peonage.
Naturally, tit was incorporated into US law early on and became foundational to the legal sanctification of the acts of the first theives and other similar issues.
A campaign is underway to get the Pope to strike it from the record books and your assistance is needed. Please follow me below the tangled knot of deception to learn how.
Though nothing can reverse history or repair the damage done, Pope Francis has the power to repeal, renounce and denounce this disgusting bit of material and religious imperialism. It should not be possible for people to point to this pernicious doctrine to justify past or present actions.
Per a mailing by the Lakota People's Law Project:
This is the time for Pope Francis to rescind this doctrine, especially in light of his recent encyclical, Laudato Si’, and his compelling speech in Bolivia in which he said, “I say this with regret: many grave sins were committed against peoples of America in the name of God.” He went on to say, “I humbly ask forgiveness, not only for the offenses of the Church herself, but also for the crimes committed against the native peoples during the so-called conquest of America.” His apology is the first step in respecting and honoring the innate rights of Indigenous peoples. Rescinding the Doctrine of Discovery will prove that Francis wants to begin a new era of cooperation.
Help! We need thousands of petition signatures before Pope Francis arrives in the United States in September. Please sign the Doctrine of Discovery petition and donate to our national education campaign.
More on this matter, as well as the petition itself, may be found here:
Doctrine of Discovery