Roomin' House Blues

Bartholomew de las Casas O.P. or Bartolome de las Casas O.P. 1484(or 1874?)-1566, "Protector of the Indians" or "Shepard of the Indians" , first Bishop of Chiapas, Mexico has an important place in the history of the church in Latin America and in the relations between the Spanish and the Indians.  His works inspired Simon Bolivar.  He has been called, (probably somewhat of an exaggeration) the Father of Anti-Imperialism and of anti-racism. His family, of French origin, originally named Casaus, settled in Seville.  His father accompanied Columbus on his second voyage and brought Bartolome as Taino slave as a trophy. which at that point in his life did not concern him.  Bartolome obtained a law degree and sailed to the Indies on the third voyage of Columbus 1n 1498, acquiring slaves and land under the  encomienda system.   But by 1510 he had become a secular priest, without yet giving up his possessions.  He did however oppos...