Professor Fred E. Woods

Research shows disease breaks down barriers of religiosity and ethnicity

The Quality of Life and Social Justice Flagship recently hosted a public lecture at the Melbourne Campus (St Patrick's), which highlighted Professor Fred E. Wood’s research among patients at a leprosy settlement on the Hawaiian island of Molokai.

Professor Woods said the disease had broken down barriers of religiosity and ethnicity, providing a common ground of brotherhood among all faiths and cultures.

He told the story of two men who became instant friends during their stay in the colony despite their different religions - Jonathan Napela, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Father Damien, a Belgian Catholic priest.

The two men joined forces to “improve the decadent moral conditions" they encountered when they first arrived in the colony, such as drinking, prostitution and child servitude.

Their efforts were so successful that the island underwent a reformation.

“The charity and uncommon service rendered at the Kalaupapa Colony serves as a reminder of the importance of erecting bridges instead of barriers, finding common ground instead of battleground, and in valuing one another regardless of ethnicity and religiosity,” Professor Woods said.

An hour-long documentary directed by Ethan Vincent, The Soul of Kalaupapa, will be released this year and shown at the World Parliament of Religions in Melbourne in December 2009.