Why did the Episcopal Church issue an apology in 2008 concerning slavery?

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The Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., features Gothic-style architecture with tall towers, pointed arches, and a large rose window above the main entrance. — The Episcopal Church Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

In 2008, the Episcopal Church issued a formal apology to acknowledge that some pre-Civil War Episcopalians were enslavers. This action made the church one of several mainline denominations to formally apologize for their historical involvement in and complicity with the institution of slavery.1