Towards the Cathedral: Ancient Sanctuary Represented in the American Context

In this Article, Mr. Feeley, discusses the historical roots of the power of the Church to provide sanctuary to those in fear of life and limb. Tracing its historical roots, the author identifies three elements of sanctuary - person, place, governmental check. He then demonstrates that the American Sanctuary Movement contains these defining elements of historical sanctuary. An analysis of the Sanctuary Movement concludes that, despite its different features and cultural locus, the Movement embodies the ancient elements of person, place and governmental check transformed, rather than transubstantiated by the American context.