Indianz.Com > News > Ivan Star Comes Out: Christianity did its best to erase our Lakota ways
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Papal Bull-ology
Friday, June 18, 2021
Native Sun News Today Columnist
During the war in Vietnam (68-69), I was asked “Why do your people take to Christianity even though it nearly wiped you out?”
Here I am, 52 years later and I can finally respond to that challenging question. But, I could be off the mark, especially since I’m not “educated” with a degree in Theology or History, especially American history. Instead, I went to the University of Life regarding religion and history.
I begin with the stuff that was hidden for centuries. In 1454, Pope Nicholas V decreed with his man-made law (Papal Bull) that Christians have the right to enslave, kill, and take the land from the “enemies of Christ wherever they may be found.” After 567 years, we are still reeling from this man’s law.
The 1875 words of Bishop Vital-Justin Grandin (1829-1902) helps to explain what I mean by that, “We instill in them a pronounced distaste for the native life so that they will be humiliated when reminded of their origin. When they graduate from our institutions, the children will have lost everything native except their blood.”
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Ivan F. Star Comes Out can be reached at P.O. Box 147, Oglala, South Dakota, 57764; via phone at 605-867-2448 or via email at mato_nasula2@outlook.com.
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