CORRECTION: WCC NEWS: WCC disowns doctrine used against Indigenous Peoples

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World Council of Churches - News

WCC DISOWNS DOCTRINE USED AGAINST INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

For immediate release: 27 February 2012

[Correcting the historical references in the 3rd and 4th paragraph and
the names of the churches mentioned in the 11th paragraph.]

In a recent meeting, the World Council of Churches (WCC) Executive
Committee denounced the “Doctrine of Discovery”, which has been used
to subjugate and colonize Indigenous Peoples. The Executive Committee
issued a statement calling the nature of the doctrine" fundamentally
opposed to the gospel of Jesus”.

The statement was issued in a meeting from 14 to 18 February in Bossey,
Switzerland, urging to repudiate this doctrine, which has permitted the
enslavement of Indigenous Peoples in the name of Christianity.

The origin of the doctrine goes back to the papal bulls issued by Pope
Nicholas V in 1452 and 1455 respectively, allowing the invasion and
killing of the Indigenous Peoples.

These historical church documents titled Dum Diversas and Romanus Pontifex
called for non-Christian people to be captured, vanquished and to have
their possessions and property seized by the Christian monarchs.

On basis of the same historical precedence the statement points out that,
“Christopher Columbus was instructed, for example, to ‘discover and
conquer,’ ‘subdue’ and ‘acquire’ distant lands.”

European countries like Spain, Portugal, England, France, and Holland used
the doctrine. The doctrine was introduced in the law of the United States
and was referenced in the United States Supreme Court case of Johnson v.
M'Intosh, 21 U.S. (8 Wheat.) 543 (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=0694f93b69fd18bdb02c
) in 1823, which in turn has been cited by courts in Australia, Canada and
New Zealand.

Therefore the Executive Committee statement points out that the “current
situation of Indigenous Peoples around the world is the result of a linear
programme of 'legal' precedent, originating with the Doctrine of Discovery
and codified in contemporary national laws and policies.”

The statement rejects the idea endorsed by the doctrine that “Christians
enjoy a moral and legal right based solely on their religious identity to
invade and seize indigenous lands and to dominate Indigenous Peoples.”

Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Calling the “Doctrine of Discovery” a violation of human rights, the
statement supports the “rights of Indigenous Peoples to live in and
retain their traditional lands and territories" and "to maintain and
enrich their cultures.”

Along with the Episcopal Dioceses of Maine and Central New York and the
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, many
churches have denounced the doctrine in the United States and Canada.

Last year several Unitarian Universalist churches and Quaker organizations
also adopted resolutions to repudiate the doctrine.

As the “Doctrine of Discovery” will be the theme for the 11th session
of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) this
year, the Executive Committee statement stressed the need to sensitize
churches on this issue.

The UNPFII session will take place from 7 to 18 May 2012 in New York.

In consideration of this, the Executive Committee statement urged the
churches and ecumenical organizations to mobilize and participate in the
UNPFII process.

The statement requested the governments to “ensure that their policies,
regulations and laws that affect Indigenous Peoples comply with
international conventions and, in particular, conform to the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the
International Labour Organization’s Convention 169.”

Through this statement, the WCC reaffirms its commitment to the rights of
the Indigenous Peoples, asking each member church to “reflect upon its
own national and church history” and to seek a better understanding of
the issues faced by Indigenous Peoples.

Read full text of the WCC Executive Committee statement (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=5f5da9eed10cc69d8b53 )

"Is five hundred and seven years too long for justice?" (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=ea1881574d1d87f9253b ) (article from the
ECHOES magazine, 1999)

Christian self-understanding in the context of indigenous religions
(Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=f0dc15221a775faa1c68
) (WCC press release of 14 February 2012)

WCC programme: Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=f17f8c771a987d45ed00 )


The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness 
and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of 
churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, 
Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million 
Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman 
Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, 
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.



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