This week in Christian history: Charlemagne crowned, friar defends Native Americans, Martin Luther’s wife dies

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, December 20, 2020

Dominican preacher denounces treatment of Native Americans – Dec. 21, 1511

Antonio de Montesinos (c. 1470-1545), a Dominican friar best known for his denunciation of the mistreatment of Native Americans in the Spanish Empire. | Screengrab: YouTube/Ramón Peguero Peguero

This week marks the anniversary of when Antonio de Montesinos, a Spanish Dominican friar, preached a sermon denouncing the mistreatment of Native Americans by the Conquistadors.

Preaching to a congregation in Hispaniola, de Montesinos warned the local Spanish rulers that their harsh mistreatment of the indigenous population put them in spiritual peril.

“Pray tell, by what right do you wage your odious wars on people who dwelt in quiet and peace on their own lands? [By what right have you] destroyed countless numbers of them with unparalleled murders and destruction? Why do you oppress and exploit them, without even giving them enough to eat, or caring for them when they become ill as a result of your exploitation?” he declared.

“Are they not human? Have they no souls? Are you not required to love them as you love yourselves? How can you remain in such profound moral lethargy? I assure you, in your present state you can no more be saved than Moors or Turks who do not have and even reject the faith of Jesus Christ!”

While his sermon was widely criticized, de Montesinos continued his advocacy, eventually getting the Spanish government to pass measures to assist the native population.