A caminhada do primeiro centro de defesa dos direitos humanos no Brasil: terra, justiça e liberdade semearam a revolução da fé na Paraíba

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the ways and the consequences of the movement critical of the Catholic Church, along with civil society, the visibility and role of the Advocacy Center of the Archdiocese of Paraiba Human Rights(CDDH). In 1975, the Archbishop of Paraiba, Dom Jose Maria Pires, created the CDDH as additive and auxiliary body in the evangelizing mission of the Archdiocese. Thus, strengthened liberation theology, allowing the Church was next to the struggles and demands of the poor (especially farmers), the socially excluded and politically persecuted by the military regime. The organization was a pioneer in Brazil and produced, in the following year, the first records of visits (a number of legal cases, criminal and social security). However, only in September 1979 is that the assumptions were approved, definitions and objectives; the criteria for the operation and tasks, in addition to the organization of staff been chosen. In 1995, when Don Jose retired, the Archdiocese of Paraiba CDDH has taken on a new name: Defense of Human Rights Foundation Alves (FDDHMMA). The documents for the years Centre's activities between 1976 and 1994, are preserved in the Ecclesiastical Archive of Paraiba. They were cataloged - and made available to researchers - the legal and financial documents, minutes, legislation, correspondence, reports, articles (some even prior to the date of creation), liturgical celebrations, designs, photographs and clippings from newspapers and magazines. By document analysis, there appears the need for (re)significance of the role of the CDDH, which walk in the light of the Gospel and the teachings of Christ, says the defense of human dignity; a unique contribution to political discourse and empowerment of the poor and excluded sectors, in support to the promotion and realization of human rights. During the military regime, the practice of religious and lay people (pastoral workers, lawyers and Paraiba peasants) strengthened the conquest of land tenure, Paraiba, and the denunciation of human rights violations in Brazil. Later, with the conquest of democracy, liberating policy CDDH served as an important reference for the exercise of full citizenship in the country.