Justice, Peace, and Domincans, 1216-2001

John Orme Mills OP & Timothy Radcliffe OP

This book looks at how one Catholic religious order - very old, yet persistently in the forefront of change - has responded to justice and peace issues in the course of 785 years: the 785 years from its foundation to the start of the Third Millennium.

The individuals portrayed here pursued this commitment in extraordinarily diverse ways - settling civil disputes in thirteenth century; defending indigenous people in the newly discovered Americas and in Africa; developing theories of international law in sixteenth century Spain; healing the sick with traditional herbal medicines in seventeenth century Peru; fleeing the cities to found a community of artists in early twentieth century England, and leaving the priories to work in factories in mid - twentieth century France; opposing apartheid in South Africa; working for refugees in late twentieth century Japan.

For these people, practical action for justice was linked with theological reflection. Their actions were part of their preaching. Looking at their achievements, and failures, can be inspiration towards finding means to work for justice and peace in new situations they would never have imagined. The days of protest are not over.

'Religious orders such as our own may have a special contribution to make today because the challenges to justice and peace are linked with globalisation and we are among the oldest international organisations in the world.' - Timothy Radcliffe OP