Bartolome de las Casas made a Dominican priest in Hispaniola. His conversion experience came while reading Sirach 34:22, "He slays his neighbor who deprives him of his living; he sheds blood who denies the laborer his wages." Las Casas argued that it was better for Indians to live as pagans than to die as Christian slaves. He rejected using the force of arms rather than the power of the gospel to win the Indians over. Over a dozen sixteenth century bishops (mostly Dominicans) vigorously defended the Indians.