Vatican never condemned liberation theology, Gustavo Gutierrez insists [CC]

[J_Peterson]

merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liberation%20theology

liberation theology
noun
Definition of LIBERATION THEOLOGY

: a religious movement especially among Roman Catholic clergy in Latin America that combines political philosophy usually of a Marxist orientation with a theology of salvation as liberation from injustice
— liberation theologian noun

I meant specifically. I hear a lot about the Marxist elements, I’m asking what those elements are.

 

[Darryl1958]

The most official critique comes from Cardinal Ratzinger.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19840806_theology-liberation_en.html.
To simplify it to the barest, liberation of the individual from the slavery and oippression of sin, becomes reinterpreted under Marxist analysis to mean liberation from the slavery of classism.

Im classic Liberation theology, the liberation is of the proletariat from the bourgoise institutions of power, in Black liberation theology, which was the theology of Obama’s church, the oppressed are all blacks, and the oppressor is all whites, in feminist liberation theology, the former is women, the latter men.
Marxist analysis transforms the traditional Christian message from a focus on liberation of the individual from the enslavement of his own personal sins, to a focus on the enslavement of the lower classes of a society by the existent power structures of that society .

 

[J_Peterson]

The most official critique comes from Cardinal Ratzinger.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19840806_theology-liberation_en.html.
To simplify it to the barest, liberation of the individual from the slavery and oippression of sin, becomes reinterpreted under Marxist analysis to mean liberation from the slavery of classism.

Im classic Liberation theology, the liberation is of the proletariat from the bourgoise institutions of power, in Black liberation theology, which was the theology of Obama’s church, the oppressed are all blacks, and the oppressor is all whites, in feminist liberation theology, the former is women, the latter men.
Marxist analysis transforms the traditional Christian message from a focus on liberation of the individual from the enslavement of his own personal sins, to a focus on the enslavement of the lower classes of a society by the existent power structures of that society .

Thanks, that helps. I’ll try and read that document at some point. I’ve been curious about Liberation Theology and the criticisms of it but not enough to actually give it a good look.

In general I don’t like any kind of politicization of Christianity (I’m not even sure such a thing is possible) but I’m sure it speaks to those in oppressive situations but it’s not for me.

 

[Darryl1958]

Thanks, that helps. I’ll try and read that document at some point. I’ve been curious about Liberation Theology and the criticisms of it but not enough to actually give it a good look.

In general I don’t like any kind of politicization of Christianity (I’m not even sure such a thing is possible) but I’m sure it speaks to those in oppressive situations but it’s not for me.

It is possible to politicize Christianity, I think, and drive a wedge between groups in the same society and even the same Church, based on political considerations.
Vatican condemning liberation theology would be tantamount to the same thing too now. The critique against liberation theology has therefore how well its rhetoric lends itself so well to Marxist interpretations.

 

[Sy_Noe]

Well here is the instruction for those who wish to muddle through it and it has little good to say about Marxism and it was even considered a threat to the church as spoken of by St. JP II who warned the church in Latin America to get out of politics!

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19840806_theology-liberation_en.html

It really is too bad that for all the talk of helping the poor, we give them nothing to help their souls. Seems a betrayal to me and this very thing was harshly condemned by Pope Leo. Of course, in today’s world following a secular trend, material equality is given more significance, and the warnings of Pope Benedict that the theology itself contained certain deceitful principles will go unheard in this age of encroaching socialism.

The current Pope is not named JP2, Leo, or Benedict. Before he became known as Pope Francis, he was Cardinal Bergoglio. And here are some strong words in which he played a role in authoring, that support a society which ensures health, food, housing, education and work for all . Which as noted is the spirit of the liberation theology movement.

“The conference’s concluding document, of which then-Cardinal Bergoglio was a principal author, did not use the term “liberation theology,” but its strong words about the “building of a just and fraternal society” that ensures “health, food, education, housing and work for all” reflect the spirit of the movement in its orthodox version.”

catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1303902.htm

 

[josie_L]

Regarding the poor today, are you reading the many and recent accounts of how Catholics in Latin America are turning away from the Church in droves and going to the Pentecostal/Evangelical churches? Where is the catechesis for them and how are they to attain salvation without the guidance and encouragement to remain in the grace of the sacraments.

Although I do not wish to imply that all ex-Catholics (in Latin America) who turn to Evangelical/Pentecostal denominations do so for monetary reasons, many of them actually do, i.e., some missionaries emphasize a sort of health and wealth gospel that appeals to the impoverished.

 

[Sy_Noe]

Although I do not wish to imply that all ex-Catholics (in Latin America) who turn to Evangelical/Pentecostal denominations do so for monetary reasons, many of them actually do, i.e., some missionaries emphasize a sort of health and wealth gospel that appeals to the impoverished.

Jesus emphasized some things about health and wealth (the sick, the poor and the rich) too and his words about those matters could be appealing to the impoverished as well.

 

[Tigg]

The current Pope is not named JP2, Leo, or Benedict.

I wonder……… just who has authority to declare the writings of other popes erroneous?

 

[Tigg]

Although I do not wish to imply that all ex-Catholics (in Latin America) who turn to Evangelical/Pentecostal denominations do so for monetary reasons, many of them actually do, i.e., some missionaries emphasize a sort of health and wealth gospel that appeals to the impoverished.

Agreed. The economic aspect of LT is very prevalent. It has also been noticed by Catholic missionaries working in the trenches that the appeal to these non-Catholic entities is based upon a feel-good emotionalism, rather than the gospel message. I can understand the appeal of Gutierrez’s theology because sin is not so much interpreted from a private perspective, but rather from an economic one. LT is very secular and sin is not individualized, but happens because of oppression from others in society.

"Sin is not considered as an individual, private, or merely interior reality. Sin is regarded as a social, historical fact, the absence of brotherhood and love in relationships among men.”

Gustavo Gutierrez
A Theology of Liberation

 

[josie_L]

Jesus emphasized some things about health and wealth (the sick, the poor and the rich) too and his words about those matters could be appealing to the impoverished as well.

No doubt these things are important, but Jesus never promised that we would all have access to health and wealth, just that he would take care of us in our most pressing times, thus giving us hope during our trials and tribulations.

 

[Darryl1958]

I wonder……… just who has authority to declare the writings of other popes erroneous?

It is unfortunate that people interpret popes’ statements through the same partisan eyes that they view their national politicians.