ROME (RNS/ENI) An exhortation by Pope Benedict XVI to Brazilian bishops to reject “certain deceitful principles” of liberation theology has been condemned by a movement campaigning for reforms in the Roman Catholic Church.
Meeting a group of Brazilian bishops earlier this month (Dec.) at the Vatican, Benedict recalled a 1984 document on liberation theology issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which the pope headed for more than 20 years.
The document — “Libertatis nuntius” — condemned “an uncritical adoption by some theologians of opinions and methods drawn from Marxism”, the pontiff told the bishops from Brazil. “Its more or less visible consequences, made up of rebellion, division, disagreement, offence and anarchy can still be felt, creating great suffering in your diocesan communities and a serious loss of living energies.”
Liberation theology emerged in Latin America in the 1960s as a movement urging Christians and churches to show solidarity with the poor and oppressed, and to challenge political and social injustice. It was expounded by both Catholics and Protestants. The Vatican, however, accused leading exponents of politicizing the church and getting too close to Marxism.
At that time “Libertatis nuntius” raised passionate reactions from liberation theologians, some of whom, such as the Peruvian Gustavo Gutierrez, or the Brazilian Leonardo Boff, defended themselves against the Vatican.
Benedict told the Brazilian bishops on Dec. 4, “I implore all those who, in some way, have felt attracted, involved and touched … by certain deceitful principles of liberation theology to take up again that document.”
Vittorio Bellavite, the spokesperson of the Italian section of the We are Church movement that campaigns for reforms in the Catholic Church, said “The obstinacy and doggedness of the reigning pontiff against liberation theology is just amazing. (The pope) forgets how many priests, nuns and lay people, inspired by this theology have spent their lives in Latin America defending the rights and the dignity of oppressed people.”
