Letter from the Pope to de Las Casas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Letter from the Pope to de Las Casas - Essay Example It is utterly shocking and saddening to read of the atrocities committed by a man upon a fellow man. The indigenous people of the Hispaniola Island, The Taino Indians, are human just like us. They are friendly and peace loving, with utter hospitality to visitors. At no time did they ever react in a violent manner towards the Spanish visitors who went there. Columbus himself acknowledged the fact that even though they were still primitive and leading a very basic way of life, they were very hospitable. Their culture and simplicity gave them an inner joy, which glowed to the outside .This, is the life we have always wanted, and which the bible teaches us to live. It is also from our Christian teaching that we learn about treating each other like a brother and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. Therefore, it is a shame and absolutely reproachable, when I read of your report. It is only the physical capacity and the military authority that I do not have, but culprits of such acts needed to be dealt with accordingly. The Catholic Church is going to maintain its initial push for global evangelization. The most positive bit of it is the discovery of the New World by Columbus and his team, which serves as fertile ground for evangelism. The initial task of Columbus was to spread Catholicism at a rapid rate in order to combat the spread of Islam to these regions. This is what the church was in support of. However, the church holds no support for slavery, slave trade or anything connected in whoever way, to such practices. We also abhor forced labor as learnt from your report, which is being meted upon the locals in the gold and silver mines. Your efforts in fighting for the rights and freedom of the Indians on the region shall be fully supported by the church. This is because your approach of colonization by farmers rather than soldiers, is the most effective and