Catholic Church Attacks Liberation Theologist, Father Jon Sobrino

[McCamy Taylor]

The new pope, who can never find time to condemn the death penalty or the ongoing war in Iraq but who always has a bad word to say about homosexuality and condoms, has taken time out from his busy schedule of showing off his collection of papal hats to condemn the teachings of Father Jon Sobrino in the popular press.

http://www.star-telegram.com/279/story/37628.html

"The Vatican on Wednesday condemned as "erroneous or dangerous" some of the writings of a well-known champion of liberation theology, the Rev. Jon Sobrino, but took no immediate disciplinary action.

"It was the first such move under the nearly two-year papacy of Pope Benedict XVI, who as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger led the Vatican's crackdown on theologians judged to be perilously straying from church doctrine.

"The Vatican began building its case in 2004 against the writings of Sobrino, a Spanish Jesuit, calling the procedure "urgent" because of the wide diffusion of his works in Latin America."

<snip>

"The Vatican has objected to liberation theology, citing its basis in Marxist analysis of society -- particularly the idea of class struggle in the promotion of social, political and economic justice for the poor.

"The Vatican singled out two of Sobrino's theological works, Jesus the Liberator: A Historical-Theological Reading of Jesus of Nazareth and Christ the Liberator: A View from the Victims."

In an article yesterday:

http://www.star-telegram.com/279/story/36314.html

"Sobrino will be sanctioned for errors in his teachings and writings about the divinity of Jesus, according to members of his Jesuit order in Rome. A Vatican spokesman earlier in the week confirmed to reporters that an investigation was under way."

<snip>

"Still, many saw a message in the criticism of one of the last champions of liberation theology, a political and sometimes radical interpretation of Roman Catholicism that emphasizes justice for the poor. It was despised by the conservative church hierarchy, which believed it departed from core dogma."

<snip>

"Today's archbishop of San Salvador, Fernando Saenz Lacalle, is a member of Opus Dei, a right-wing Catholic organization that has gained significant power in recent years. It appeared that Saenz Lacalle pushed the Vatican to act against Sobrino, according to Jesuit sources. Saenz Lacalle said the Vatican had concluded that Sobrino's writings questioned the divinity of Jesus."


For more details of the Church's action, go here:

http://www.catholicanarchy.org/

I have already ordered my copies of the two books which the Church objected to most strongly, Jesus the Liberator: A Historical-Theological Reading of Jesus of Nazareth and Christ the Liberator: A View from the Victims, both of which are available at Amazon.

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. This is why Pope Maladict hates liberation theology

From the Wikipedia:

Liberation theology is a school of theology that focuses on Jesus Christ as not only the Redeemer but also the Liberator of the Oppressed. It emphasizes the Christian mission to bring justice to the poor and oppressed, particularly through political activism.

Nothing will destroy the Catholic Church faster than bringing justice to the poor and oppressed. :sarcasm:

[happyslug]

2. Dupilcate See the following for prevous thread on this topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2767921