Why do you want to read something from someone that has be defrocked or even ex-communicated and is in error?
- I’ve heard it mentioned in some threads here that Boff has been excommunicated. Isn’t that just a little bit of hyperbole or has he officially been excommunicated?
- I just ordered his forthcoming book, “Christianity in a Nutshell,” which promises to be pretty awesome. Anyone else gonna get their hands on it?
Edward A. Lynch, in his article THE RETREAT OF LIBERATION THEOLOGY has some good insights (can be found on EWTN) . . .. . . . Liberation theology conflates heavenly salvation with temporal justice, co-opting religious doctrine, morals, and piety to feed revolutionary fervor. Because of its association with Marxist ideology, its proponents’ often-irregular relationship to Church authority, and its nasty habit of “immanentizing the eschaton”—deeming it possible to inaugurate Christ’s future, heavenly kingdom in someplace like Nicaragua or Sri Lanka—the movement and its leaders have been sharply criticized and sanctioned during the last two pontificates. . . .
The pontificate of John Paul II has been marked by a determination to reinsert the Church and its beliefs into elements of human life from which secularism sought to expel them. (John Paul is ably assisted in this endeavor by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, whom the Pope appointed head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Ratzinger authored a two-part refutation of liberation theology in the 1984 ***Instruction on Certain Aspects of the “Theology of Liberation” *** (can be found here) and the Instruction on Christian Freedom and Liberation (can be found here) that came out two years later.)
Quoting (then) Cardinal Ratzinger, Lynch also states (bold mine):John Paul’s main enemy, since his election in 1978, has been modern secularism. For the Pope, liberation theology is part of this secularism.
And one more quote from Lynch’s fine article because it has to do with us here in the USA right now especially with some people in positions of power and influence who are seemingly somewhat discreetly promoting the “Culture of Envy” (Lynch may or may not have foreseen this when writing the article back in 1994) . . .Any attempt to satisfy the material needs of persons, while ignoring their spiritual nature, such as encouraging people to despise the rich, to steal from them or to use violence against them, will only lead people deeper into the slavery of sin. Only a thoroughly materialistic culture can perceive this as progress. For traditional Catholics, “Redemption is liberation in the strongest sense of the word, since it is liberation from sin” (Ratzinger, 1986: para. 3) . . . . . “the special option for the poor, far from being a sign of particularism or sectarianism, manifests the universality of the Church’s being and mission. This option excludes no one.” All human beings are poor. All people need spiritual sustenance; some need material sustenance also (1986: para. 68).
**Leonardo Boff was a proponent of this erroneous theology (“Liberation Theology”). ** He has been removed from Catholic Priestly ministry for clinging to this flawed theological system despite being corrected.Catholic social thought has warned against unbridled capitalism since 1891. . . . The Catholic Popes stress the disquieting similarity of capitalism and socialism, which Pius XI called the “twin rocks of shipwreck.” Since it is materialistic itself, capitalism cannot counter the threat of another secular, materialistic philosophy like socialism. John Paul desires to supersede both by replacing the culture of profit (capitalism), and the culture of envy (socialism), with a culture of fellowship, solidarity, work, austerity and unity.
Since Liberation Theology was especially propagated in South America (not limited to there, but was pushed hard there), and Boff coming from Brazil, there is a likely connection (more reading suggests Boff and others “evangelized” this theological error particularly adroitly in South America, but it has metastasized elsewhere too).Leonardo Boff today calls himself a “theologus peregrinus,” without a stable home. He was banned from teaching in Catholic theology faculties in a 1985 sentence from the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, caused mainly by his book “Church, Charism and Power: Liberation Theology and the Institutional Church.” He left the Franciscan order and got married. He lives in Petrópolis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Doesn’t the fact that he has been removed from the priesthood and possibly even excommunicated bother you enough to not buy and/or read his material?
- I’ve heard it mentioned in some threads here that Boff has been excommunicated. Isn’t that just a little bit of hyperbole or has he officially been excommunicated?
- I just ordered his forthcoming book, “Christianity in a Nutshell,” which promises to be pretty awesome. Anyone else gonna get their hands on it?
no. i read the work of many non-priests and non-catholics. why would one more trouble me?Doesn’t the fact that he has been removed from the priesthood and possibly even excommunicated bother you enough to not buy and/or read his material?
Just simply the concerns of LT and the statements of rejection by the Church. I guess I am a person who doesn’t spend time and energy on these type teachings.no. i read the work of many non-priests and non-catholics. why would one more trouble me?
The concerns about LT are not monolithic or definitive. For example, if LT was, on the whole, totally refuted, then why did Pope Francis meet with Gutierrez? Why would Archbishop Romero be in the line for potential canonization?Just simply the concerns of LT and the statements of rejection by the Church. I guess I am a person who doesn’t spend time and energy on these type teachings.
I’m no expert on LT, to say the least; but I do believe the Church as a whole gives me what I need by her example. If this priest was de-frocked for his work on this issue I will be obidient and stay away from him.The concerns about LT are not monolithic or definitive. For example, if LT was, on the whole, totally refuted, then why did Pope Francis meet with Gutierrez? Why would Archbishop Romero be in the line for potential canonization?
See, it’s not so clear cut as LT opponents make it seem. SOME liberationists were no more than doctrinaire marxists masquerading around in vestments. Sure. I’ll give you that.
But that number is far fewer than many LT opponents pretend.
I don’t consider Boff to be off the reservation. Nor do a number of other Catholics, including many clergy and some hierarchs.
Does he have a spotty track record? Sure. By some measures.
But then again, what do I know? I’m not a very good Catholic by some measures.
I was being half-tongue in cheek, half-self deprecating, and half-what you said.I’m no expert on LT, to say the least; but I do believe the Church as a whole gives me what I need by her example. If this priest was de-frocked for his work on this issue I will be obidient and stay away from him.
I am curious, you say you’re not a “very good Catholic”, what do you mean by this? Do you find yourself on the opposite side as the Church on particular issues? Please explain.
I can see that your views are a little left, but for the most part I would have to believe you do not seek disconnection from the Church.I was being half-tongue in cheek, half-self deprecating, and half-what you said.
As you can see – I’m fully bad at math.
Look, I’m a Catholic who hopes that one day the Church ordains married priests (regularly, not as an exception), and eventually women. I’m a dyed in the wool post Vatican-II Catholic who attends a fairly liberal dyed in the wool post Vatican II parish.
You may have heard of my priest. Fr. Richard T. Lawrence. Don’t remember him? Google the name and you’ll remember him.
That’s my church and that’s my priest. I love them both.
That might answer your question.
yes, quite Left. And of course I don’t seek disconnection from the Church. How could I seek disconnection from my Mother? I was born into Her, was away from Her for some time, and ran back home to Her. Why would I want to leave Her?I can see that your views are a little left, but for the most part I would have to believe you do not seek disconnection from the Church.
Time will tell on all of these matters. Catholics of good conscience can have differing opinions on the mattersAs for as female ordination, this has been laid to rest; JPII, “the Church has no authority to ordain women". It’s a done deal and considered divine law. Married men being ordained can and may one day be the norm, not the mandate because there will always be a need for celibacy in the Church. I believe the married and celibate clergy work quite well together now, I speak from personal experience here, and I have to believe that married and celibate priests will work well together in the future, my hope here.
Not on the matter of the Church only having authority to ordain men–that one must be “definitively held by all the Church’s faithful.”Catholics of good conscience can have differing opinions on the matters
16* and would therefore no longer be in full communion with the Catholic Church*.Whoever denies these truths would be in a position of rejecting a truth of Catholic doctrine
.
- Secondly, I observe that conscience is not a judgment upon any speculative truth, any abstract doctrine, but bears immediately on conduct, on something to be done or not done. “Conscience,” says St. Thomas, “is the practical judgment or dictate of reason, by which we judge what hic et nunc is to be done as being good, or to be avoided as evil.” Hence conscience cannot come into direct collision with the Church’s or the Pope’s infallibility; which is engaged in general propositions, and in the condemnation of particular and given errors.
Vatican analyst: Pope distanced himself from liberation theology
Vatican City, Sep 17, 2013 / 12:11 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- During a meeting on Monday with priests from the Diocese of Rome, Pope Francis reportedly suggested that he does not support the version of liberation theology represented by Peruvian priest Father Gustavo Gutierrez.
In a post for his Italian-language blog Settimo Cielo, Vatican analyst Sandro Magister said the Holy Father distanced himself from Archbishop Gerhard Muller – the current prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who supports Fr. Gutierrez’s views – in a “brief but eloquent” observation made during a question-and-answer session with the priests.
Magister said the meeting was “behind closed doors” and described Pope Francis’ comment on liberation theology as “serious and sharp,” although it went largely unnoticed by the media, . . . .
See the details and the whole article here .. . . The Pope’s statement is significant in light of the audience he granted last Thursday to Fr. Gutierrez, who is considered one of the fathers of liberation theology. The unscheduled meeting took place at the insistence of Archbishop Muller. . . .