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Latin American liberation theology (Spanish: Teología de la liberación, Portuguese: Teologia da libertação) is a synthesis of Christian theology and Marxian socio-economic analyses, that emphasizes "social concern for the poor and political liberation for oppressed peoples".[1] Beginning in the 1960s after the Second Vatican Council,[2] liberation theology became the political praxis of Latin American theologians such as Gustavo Gutiérrez, Leonardo Boff, and Jesuits Juan Luis Segundo and Jon Sobrino, who popularized the phrase "preferential option for the poor". It arose principally as a moral reaction to the poverty and social injustice in the region, which Cepal deemed the most unequal in the world.[3]
This expression was used first by Jesuit Fr. General Pedro Arrupe in 1968 and soon after this the World Synod of Catholic Bishops in 1971 chose as its theme "Justice in the World".[4][5] It was popularized in 1971 by the Peruvian priest Gustavo Gutiérrez, who wrote one of the movement's defining books, A Theology of Liberation. Other noted exponents include Leonardo Boff of Brazil, and Jesuits Jon Sobrino of El Salvador and Juan Luis Segundo of Uruguay.[6][7]
The Latin American context also produced Protestant advocates of liberation theology, such as Rubem Alves,[8][9] José Míguez Bonino, and C. René Padilla, who in the 1970s called for integral mission, emphasizing evangelism and social responsibility.
- ^ Dictionary of Historical Terms (1998), 2nd ed., Chris Cook, ed., p. 203.
- ^ Løland, Ole Jakob (July 2021). Usarski, Frank (ed.). "The Solved Conflict: Pope Francis and Liberation Theology" (PDF). International Journal of Latin American Religions. 5 (2). Berlin: Springer Nature: 287–314. doi:10.1007/s41603-021-00137-3. eISSN 2509-9965. ISSN 2509-9957.
- ^ Protección social inclusiva en América Latina: una mirada integral, un enfoque de derechos (in Spanish). CEPAL. March 1, 2011. ISBN 978-92-1-054555-6.
- ^ Dault, Lira (January 22, 2015). "What Is the Preferential Option for the Poor?". U.S. Catholic. 80: 46. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020.
- ^ Crosby, Michael (October 17, 2016). "In 1971, the Bishops Sounded a Call for Justice". National Catholic Reporter. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- ^ Richard P. McBrien, Catholicism (Harper Collins, 1994), chapter IV.
- ^ Gustavo Gutierrez, A Theology of Liberation, 1st (Spanish) ed. Lima, Peru, 1971; 1st English ed. Orbis Books (Maryknoll, New York), 1973.
- ^ Alves, Rubem A. (1988). Towards a Theology of Liberation. Princeton Theological Seminary.
- ^ "Rubem Alves – Liberation Theology Pioneer". Critical Therapy Center. New York. July 21, 2014. Archived from the original on January 13, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2020.