Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. | Reuters/Joshua Roberts
The Society of Jesus, an influential Catholic Church order commonly known as the Jesuits, are planning to raise $100 million to give to descendants of slaves once owned by their members.
The money will go to a foundation created by descendants of slaves sold in 1838 by the Jesuits to help fund Georgetown University when it was in financial trouble, The New York Times reported.
“This is an opportunity for Jesuits to begin a very serious process of truth and reconciliation,” said the Rev. Timothy Kesicki, president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, as quoted by the NY Times.