Fra Bartolome de las Casas
Fra Bartolome de las Casas
The role of the Commission is to further the work of the Order in the area of Justice and Peace. As such, we are committed to furthering Justice and Peace both at a national level and at the level of the international Order.
The Church encourages us to respond to the "signs of the times" - what is really going on in our world. For Dominicans that search is part of the search for truth. We study, we pray and we act as servants of the truth. This combination of study, prayer and action as mutually enriching is central to our vision as Dominicans.
"In order to discern the signs of the times we must attend carefully to the cry of the poor, the oppressed, the downtrodden, the tortured and those who suffer persecution because of their race, religion and the protest against injustice."(Dominican General Council 1980)
We seek to work closely with the wider Church and with other Justice and Peace movements and groups. We also provide theological reflection, organise conferences and produce publications.
The concerns of justice are an integral part of the Christian life and the preaching of the Gospel. Central to our aims is to provide a greater awareness of the extremely rich resources of the Church's tradition of social teaching and concern. This is a living tradition in which we all can play a part.
The Dominican Order has made a significant contribution to the promotion of Justice and Peace. In the sixteenth century the Dominican theologian Francisco de Vitoria and the Salamanca School established many of the theoretical foundations of human rights. At roughly the same time in South America the Dominicans Bartolomé de las Casas bravely defended the rights of the indigenous peoples and spoke out against their cruel treatment by the conquistadores. There have been many other important examples, for example, the work of the Belgian Dominican, Georges Henri Pire for refugees for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1958.
The annual Las Casas Lecture takes place in the autumn at Blackfriars, Oxford and is held in honour of the Dominican Bartolomé de las Casas. Each year a speaker is invited to give a talk on an a topic relating to the theology of Justice and Peace.
Lecturers have included: Mary Midgely, Sheila Cassidy, Austin Smith, Bruce Kent, Adrian Hastings, Rowan Williams, Paul Vallely and Nicholas Boyle.
Some of the lectures have been published. Please see Publications.
The Commission organises colloquia and conferences on particular issues of concern as a way of increasing understanding and to establish a constructive dialogue between people of differing views.
Topics have included:
We are currently undertaking a project on the Theology of Human Rights.
Flawed Beauty and Wise Use - Conservation and the Christian Tradition
Margaret Atkins
Oppression Then and Now - Bartolomé de las Casas
Austin Smith CP
Prophecy Today
Rowan Williams
Nationalism, Genocide and Justice
Adrian Hastings
All publications are available for £1 each incl. Postage (discounts for orders of more than 10) from:
Dominican Justice
and Peace Commission
Blackfriars
64 St Giles
Oxford
OX1 3LY
email: dominicanjp@hotmail.com
Watch this space! News coming soon.
For further information about the work of the Dominican Justice and Peace Commission contact:
Justice and Peace Commission
Blackfriars
64 St Giles
Oxford
OX1 3LY
email: dominicanjp@hotmail.com