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Under the Banner of Bartolom é de las Casas

Under the Banner of Bartolom é de las Casas. Brazilian Dominicans & Social Justice. “Con que derecho?. Question of Antonio de Montesinos, speaking for first OP community in Latin America, Christmas Eve 1511 “What right?” do the Spanish colonists have to exploit & enslave the native peoples

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Under the Banner of Bartolom é de las Casas

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  1. Under the Banner of Bartolomé de las Casas Brazilian Dominicans & Social Justice

  2. “Con que derecho? • Question of Antonio de Montesinos, speaking for first OP community in Latin America, Christmas Eve 1511 • “What right?” do the Spanish colonists have to exploit & enslave the native peoples • from 1512 used tradition of natural law, favouring the citizen to demand social justice through the legal system • Francisco de Vitoria & followers in Salamanca took up the question of human rights for all

  3. Bartolomé de las Casas • La Brevisima relación de la destruicón de las Indias • evangelical vision of peace and justice for Latin America • Voyage of Christopher Columbus • Missionary chosen by God • His discovery could advance the meeting of peoples & continents • On the One Way of Bringing All Peoples to the True Religion • His missiological ‘Summa’ • Little studied till C20th • Denigrated, while Vitoria’s work in Spain was well received

  4. Failures of Evangelisation • While the Church in Latin America preached the gospel of love & justice, • It used slave labour, accommodating injustice • In Brazil, Africans were enslaved, native Indians were decimated • Only in the C20th did a broad movement for Justice & Peace take up Las Casas’ teaching

  5. Option for the Sertão • 1881: French Dominican friars & sisters inspired by Lacordaire set up a new foundation in the Sertão (rural hinterland) • Among peasants, Indians & mestizo people: choosing to live alongside the oppressed • 1936 Italian Dominicans joined including • Domenico Acerbi, tropical medic • Candido Penso, bishop who built a hospital • Motto of the province: the truth will set you free

  6. Church Renewal • 1889 Brazil a secular republic • 1930s Catholic mobilisation for social justice • inspired by Quadragesimo Anno (1931) • ‘Social decalogue’ to parliamentary candidates 1933 • Renewal of the Church • New groups & associations • Influence of Aquinas’ thought via Maritain • 1940s on: OP priories e.g. Rio de Janiero, São Paolo centres of spiritual & social renewal

  7. Louis Joseph Lebret • French OP, visited Brazil from 1947 for study & dialogue • Collaboration in social science & urban planning • Modernisation model of ‘economy & humanism’, harmony of ‘charity & technology’ • Confirmed Las Casas’ ideals • “action leads to God” in the fight for justice

  8. Gospel & Social Revolution • Social Encyclicals of John XXIII impact • Mater et Magistra (1961) on 70th anniversary of Rerum Novarum: greeted as new in Brazil • With Pacem in Terris (1963), seen as a charter for Catholic action • Gospel & Social Revolution (Carlos Josaphat Pinto de Oliveira, 1962) • Interpreting Sermon on the Mount in light of Communist Manifesto • Including the social encyclicals

  9. The Dominicans’ Chance • Lay movement for social justice, Ação Popular • OP involvement in student & worker movements e.g. • Mateus Rocha, rector University of Brasilia • Emmanuel Retumba & worker-priests in São Paolo • Joao Batista & UNILABOR working community project • Priory of St Albert the Great, Perdizes suburb of São Paolo • Brasil Urgente weekly paper • Until 31 March 1964 military coup d’etat

  10. Frei Betto • Preacher, journalist, spiritual writer • Baptism of Blood (1982) on the dictatorship which ended 1980 • contributed to foundation of Workers’ Party, • spiritual director, advisor to Lula • Led MIRE: Mística e Revolução (Mysticism & Revolution) • C20th-21st youth movement • combining spirituality & social engagement • to restart projects of the 1960s

  11. Amazon Rights & Solidarity • Working with communities of the rainforest & Amazon basin against transnational companies exploiting the land • Henri Burin des Roziers & sisters, OP lawyers • St Dominic Solidarity Group • Communicating between activist movements across Brazil, then America • Solidarity with South Africa, East Timor

  12. Pastoral Commission on the Land • 1988 constitution on land reform not enforced • Brazilian Conference of Bishops commission for land reform & against slave labour • Spiritual & ethical resource for MST movement of landless workers • OP involvment including its president:

  13. Dom Thomas Balduino • Bishop of Goiás, heart of Seratão • ‘flying bishop of the Indians’ • Helped the Brazlian Church to serve the native peoples • A model of a Church of communion, participation & sharing

  14. Las Casas’ Mission Today Dominicans in Brazil & Latin America “are still called to give new life to the option for justice, by engaging in the difficult & exciting task of promoting human rights for all” Carlos Josaphat Pinto de Oliveira

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