Santo Domingo. – Santiago’s archbishop yesterday headed a mass in the Cathedral to mark the 500 years since the sermon of Fray Antón de Montesinos, who fight against the Spaniards colonizers’ abuse, mistreatment and exploitation of the Taino Indians earned him the name of the first human rights activist of the Americas.
Ramon Benito de la Rosa y Carpio said the first shout to defend the indigenous peoples from the colonizers’ oppression and mistreatment is contained in the declaration of human rights as well as in the Dominican Constitution.
Based on the “Sermon of Montesinos,” de la Rosa stressed the importance of defending the dignity of the people and of their rights, and affirmed that what the country most needs is improved health. “With what right do we have a population that doesn’t have the right to health and with what right do we have hundreds of people who live in barrios without house.”
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
It certainly was a call in vain as, through murder and treachery and brutal forced labour , almost all the Taino Indians were wiped out ,The catholic church that came with the spanish conquerers can hardly be seperated from the crimes of wiping out indiginous populations in many latin american countries, But good for him for making a stand for good.
From: Dominican Republic
It is a sad ironic situation when the Roman Catholic church led by Nicols Jesus Rodriguez will hold the mass for the Taino's eradication when they were responsible for that genocide.
From: United States
The hipocracy of the Catholic Chuch has no limits and no boundaries. Not only was the Catholic Church guilty of exterminating much of the native population of the Americas, but they were also the money making machinery behind the African slave trade into the Americas. Absolutely disgusting!!!
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Karl Marx said religion was the opium of the masses.
The Catholic Church was very good at the trade.
Written by: anthonyC, 12 Dec 2011 10:36 AM
From: United States
While i am no fan of organized religion, especially the Catholic Church, The idea of blaming it for crimes committed by others 500 years ago is just stupid.
Written by: RoyStone, 12 Dec 2011 12:10 PM
From: Australia
“With what right do we have a population that doesn’t have the right to health and with what right do we have hundreds of people who live in barrios without house.?”
With the divine right or the Catholic Church, of course - to forbid effective effective contraception and abortion, continuing their total disregard for the quality of human life, just to boost the quantity.
If they were worried about the health of the people they could stop obstructing medical research for the sake of ancient superstition.
If they were worried about the lack of housing for the poor, they could sell a tiny part of their massive, ill-gotten, tax-exempt real-estate holdings and provide proper housing.
In their heyday they happily supported these atrocities. Now that they are unfashionable, they jump on the bandwagon, long after the parade has begun.
Hypocrites it the extreme!
Written by: generoso, 12 Dec 2011 12:50 PM
From: United States, Quisqueya
Columbus and the catholic priests where fellow travelers, and the harbingers of genocide. They went against the specific instructions from their employers, the King and Queen of Spain, and mistreated, enslaved and slaughtered the Taino indians.
They were self anointed messiahs, slave traders, schemers, megalomaniacs, and plunderers.
Montesinos was no better, as he showed little compassion for the African slaves, that were hijacked to the new world.
Written by: Kaliman, 12 Dec 2011 1:17 PM
From: United States, California
NICE!!! The only problem is, you are still a prisoner of the RELIGION brought to you by the SPANIARDS. How f'cked up is that? You are still oppressed, mistreated and exploited (Spiritually and physically)... Religions that worship anything that points to the "light" or to "white objects" as being "divine and pure" are inherently racist religions. They harm all humans of color (black, brown, red...)
The archbishop needs to evolve, or wake up.... Let us not be afraid of the light of day and let us not be afraid of the dark of the night. Let us not be afraid of white and let us not be afraid of black. Let us appreciate the light and the dark, as they are both a part of nature. ENOUGH SAID. I am not here to argue. That's just a bundle of facts for the sake of social change, social justice and for destroying ignorance. :)
Written by: RoyStone, 12 Dec 2011 1:34 PM
From: Australia
Of course Montesinos was not personally responsible for the atrocities committed against the Tainos, and was indeed brave to speak out against what was generally accepted as "normal" amongst colonizers at the time.
However the archbishop's adaptation of Montesinos' sermon to relate to Dominicans in the barrios is totally unjustified.
Written by: RoyStone, 12 Dec 2011 1:42 PM
From: Australia
Kaliman,
In the Dominican Republic, the power and influence of the Catholic Church is diminishing rapidly, only to be replaced by the fundamentalist Evangelical Churches - not from Spain or Rome, but from the southern states of the USA directly and via Brazil. We are moving out of the frying-pan and into the fire!
Written by: RoyStone, 12 Dec 2011 1:57 PM
From: Australia
anthonyC,
It is more valid to blame the Catholic Church for its atrocities committed now and 500 years ago, directly and by proxy, than for the Catholic Church to blame mankind for the suffering of Christ on the Cross 1978 years ago, or Original Sin committed by Adam in the Garden of Eden, 5985 years ago. Blame and guilt are the stock and trade of the Catholic and Evangelical Churches. Without it, they can't sell you forgiveness, avoidance of hell and eternity in paradise. (Or at least, kitsch, plastic injection-molded statues of the Virgin Mary).
Written by: Kaliman, 12 Dec 2011 2:16 PM
From: United States, California
@ RoyStone... Got it!!! Ha ha ha, basically the same monster. The only difference is that it has mutated... Very scary!!! /:
From: Canada
Safe Business Betting ... The God bet is a straight forward thing actually. If you bet on the existence of God and when you die it turns out there is no God then you have lost nothing but if God does exist than you lose everything ...
Death is rather personal and pretty much evenly meted out to everyone ... so ... make your bet count ...
Written by: RoyStone, 12 Dec 2011 2:33 PM
From: Australia
Kaliman, you ain't seen nothin' yet ...
Christians are wusses compared to Muslims.
Sharia Law is the new Canonical Law - coming to you soon via an Ayatollah near you!
From: Dominican Republic, San Carlos, barrio de matatanes, aqui no invente
there is an old controversy about what exactly is montesinos's statue shouting
My grandpa who is a street historian of nationwide fame says what montesinos is really shouting is
" que bajo hay en guibia "
but that is open for debate of course
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The Catholic Church was very good at the trade.
With the divine right or the Catholic Church, of course - to forbid effective effective contraception and abortion, continuing their total disregard for the quality of human life, just to boost the quantity.
If they were worried about the health of the people they could stop obstructing medical research for the sake of ancient superstition.
If they were worried about the lack of housing for the poor, they could sell a tiny part of their massive, ill-gotten, tax-exempt real-estate holdings and provide proper housing.
In their heyday they happily supported these atrocities. Now that they are unfashionable, they jump on the bandwagon, long after the parade has begun.
Hypocrites it the extreme!
Columbus and the catholic priests where fellow travelers, and the harbingers of genocide. They went against the specific instructions from their employers, the King and Queen of Spain, and mistreated, enslaved and slaughtered the Taino indians.
They were self anointed messiahs, slave traders, schemers, megalomaniacs, and plunderers.
Montesinos was no better, as he showed little compassion for the African slaves, that were hijacked to the new world.
The archbishop needs to evolve, or wake up.... Let us not be afraid of the light of day and let us not be afraid of the dark of the night. Let us not be afraid of white and let us not be afraid of black. Let us appreciate the light and the dark, as they are both a part of nature. ENOUGH SAID. I am not here to argue. That's just a bundle of facts for the sake of social change, social justice and for destroying ignorance. :)
However the archbishop's adaptation of Montesinos' sermon to relate to Dominicans in the barrios is totally unjustified.
In the Dominican Republic, the power and influence of the Catholic Church is diminishing rapidly, only to be replaced by the fundamentalist Evangelical Churches - not from Spain or Rome, but from the southern states of the USA directly and via Brazil. We are moving out of the frying-pan and into the fire!
It is more valid to blame the Catholic Church for its atrocities committed now and 500 years ago, directly and by proxy, than for the Catholic Church to blame mankind for the suffering of Christ on the Cross 1978 years ago, or Original Sin committed by Adam in the Garden of Eden, 5985 years ago. Blame and guilt are the stock and trade of the Catholic and Evangelical Churches. Without it, they can't sell you forgiveness, avoidance of hell and eternity in paradise. (Or at least, kitsch, plastic injection-molded statues of the Virgin Mary).
Death is rather personal and pretty much evenly meted out to everyone ... so ... make your bet count ...
Christians are wusses compared to Muslims.
Sharia Law is the new Canonical Law - coming to you soon via an Ayatollah near you!
there is an old controversy about what exactly is montesinos's statue shouting
My grandpa who is a street historian of nationwide fame says what montesinos is really shouting is
" que bajo hay en guibia "
but that is open for debate of course