Why do they call it "option" for the poor?

[Contarini]

Good interpretation and I wouldn’t argue with it.

Additional point: relates back to the forbidden (but at one
time “popular”) so-called Liberation Theology.

Pope John Paul II took the term (widely in use) from those
involved in liberation theology. The Holy Father, very wisely,
“cleaned up” and thereby restored the value of the term. He
made it respectable and a guiding force within the Church -
rather than a term at odds with the Church.

Where do you get the idea that liberation theology as a whole has been “forbidden”? The Vatican texts I’ve seen are careful to speak of “some forms” or “some aspects” of liberation theology.

The preferential option language comes right out of liberation theology, and its use by the Pope demonstrates that liberation theology is not all bad!

Edwin

 

[Contarini]

I wish you well on your research, but you’ve got a very big job ahead of you because it’s important to understand how political ideology has become intertwined with social justice by both Catholics and Protestants, even evangelicals. If you are using the Compendium of Social Doctrine as a basis for your presentation, it’s important to note that the CDW issued clarifications in its “Instruction on Certain Aspects of the Theology of Liberation” in which it warned of the ways Marxism has perverted the Christian meaning of the poor.

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

These errors were predominantly spread in the ‘60’s in Latin America because of the alliance between the Jesuits and Marxism (You may also want to read the book “The Jesuits” which is filled with documentation and JP II’s struggle to correct this.) One poster has given you a source for Fr. Arrupe although my sources have mentioned Fr. Gustavo Gutierrez, another Jesuit, who popularized the term, option for the poor.

Here is a good critique on the Compendium which may help you, although be warned:

(See also Elizabeth’s earlier post which touched upon this.)

And lastly, I have not read this book yet, but it’s been highly recommended by others entitled “The Mirage of Social Justice,” by Friedrich Hayek. He analyses the way the term social justice was being used in the 20th century and how it has now become a synonym for progressive (meaning leftist,) politics heading toward socialism.

Praying you do good for our kids, Advocate, lest another generation of Catholics be confused into thinking that the poor are to somehow be elevated above others simply by virtue of the fact that they are poor.

Can’t resist…for those who do not want to read the entire critique:

You’re lumping together libertarian propaganda with Catholic teaching.

I don’t see how some Catholics can believe that libertarianism is compatible with their faith.

The Catholic Church seems to me to teach pretty clearly that society does have the responsibility to care for the poor–it is to be done according to “subsidiarity,” but not left entirely up to the choice of individuals.

Edwin