Why is Liberation Theology so Controversial?

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[chusty]

Argentine here. I think it is important to mention concerning historical context that those brutal military dictatoriship that appeared during the 60's and 70's were not merely because of political unrest and economic crisis. It is widely known that it was all sponsored by the US in an effort to prevent the spread of communism from Cuba to the rest of the continent. Generals and admirals of latinamerican armies were taught on how to fight communism in the "School of Americas". During the cold war, just as the USSR was trying to install communist governments in other countries, the US was installing dictators and puppet governments that were deeply anticommunist and many times ruthless.

[javierorejarena]

As a Colombian, I can say a couple of things: First, that the military regimes and armed movements that emerged during those times were directly and indirectly sponsored by the global powers engaged in the Cold War, plunging our countries into misery and poverty. Secondly, the spirit of liberation theology has been adopted by not a few priests and leaders who sadly have not remained faithful to the Catholic Church causing great divisions and pain in our Latin American communities, but at the same time the Catholic sentiment is resurging strongly in our countries which makes uncomfortable not a few people and institutions that have taken advantage in the past of these circumstances and the division they have generated. I trust then that the Holy Spirit will enlighten our leaders and bishops so that from all of this a new vision of the Church's mission may effectively emerge that will bring about justice and salvation for our poor communities and the individuals who make up our communities. Thank you very much for this video.

[IsabellaKathryn]

Hi Father, because of you and other Catholic youtubers, I’m receiving my sacraments this year and finishing my second year of ccd

[andie_z]

Hi, I just wanted you to know that this channel was one of the main things that converted me from atheism to Catholicism, so keep up the good work - you're changing lives!

[BrianErnestBrown]

Why would there be a problem if "the poor took over the church to fix the church"?

[robertajaycart]

The American government created a lot of the misery, that happened in Latin America trying to fight communism

[darlameeks]

I am a new adult convert to Catholicism. I love learning more and more about the faith, having spent almost 49 years as an active Protestant. Thank you, Father, for these videos!

Liberation Theology is controversial in Protestant circles, as well. As my Christian philosophy major friend has pointed out to me in many a conversation, Liberation Theology is the Gospel filtered through Marxism, while Prosperity Theology popularized in the U.S. is the Gospel filtered through Capitalism. One is fueled by need, the other by greed...neither is entirely correct, while containing some truth. The beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is it's simplicity. Through Him, we can relate to God as our Father...our provider. Jesus taught His disciples (most of them poor) to stop worrying about their material needs (which does them no good), and trust in their heavenly Father "who knows you have need of such things". He also said, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteous, and all of these things shall be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33) The Church teaches us to first eat of the heavenly Eucharist, and then to pray for our daily bread. My favorite prayer from Scripture is found in the book of Proverbs. It helps me to never worry about money or material things. I pray it often, and it guards my heart against both fear of lack, and greed.

Proverbs 30:7 Two things I ask of you;
do not deny them to me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lying far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but simply provide me with the food that I need.
9 For if I have too much, I may deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And if I am destitute, I may begin to steal
and profane the name of my God.

[boink]

Kerry Walters' book 'Saint Oscar Romero, Pastor, Prophet, Martyr' can provide much insight into what Father Óscar went through in the last few years of his life. Father Óscar was brutally gunned down while celebrating Mass in 1980.

[hollistantang]

Thank you for bringing this topic.. I personally, despite not from Latin America, could see the line between liberation theology and the Catholic Church. I don't identify liberation theology with marxism or communism, but more towards "care towards justice and the poor".
But then, I disagree with the use of force... I still believe that " Liberation" should be achieved through the way Jesus taught.. Love, and justice.

[stevefugatt]

If you empower and educate the poor of the world you challenge as well as change the power structure. Those at the top of the pyramid like things the way they are....They like the power and authority. If anything is "heresy" it is the current fad of prosperity based Christianity that runs rampant through many denominations....Christ did not teach these things and yet they are taught in our churches. It is wrong. Thank you again Fr Casey for another insightful video.

[fernandobiasi]

As a brazilian, I can say that while in theory it's not marxism, the reality is that it's 100% used that way. The implementation of these ideas in our churches transformed the high clergy in basically a political movement for left-wing parties, with the conference of bishops always showing affection to certain politicians. The materialistic view also appeared in full force, a expressive number of adepts to this theology treat the Church as a "community", Holy Mass as a "reunion of the assembly", and The Eucharist as a "sharing of the bread", undermining the spiritual meaning of all these concepts. This has led to a substantial increase in protestants in Brasil, the laity ran from this to non-ironically join a more Christ centered church.

[arsenicrice]

Benedict did a great job in the service of JP2 diving into liberation theology and sifting the necessity of the preferential option for the poor and oppressed from the secular Marxists.

Also love St. Oscar Romero as a model for the ideal liberation theology. Confronting the ruling class of El Salvador that was abusing the poorest while at the same time condemning the communist revolutionaries that sought to use the poor as a means to seize material power.

[frankrault]

Way too many Catholics turn the blind eye to St. Pauls words on love: Whatever great quality you may have, without love you're only an empty vessel.
When you consider the silent and lasting cry for God's help by the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, you know that so many Catholics prefer juntas above the love of Christ, having no clue whatsoever about love as was brought and shown and taught by Jesus.

[jaypino]

I think sometimes what is missed in these explanations is the dynamic that these communities who we’re experiencing extreme poverty and violent oppression from their governments developed a theological system of understanding based on that experience. Then they were being criticized by Catholic leadership that was largely centred in areas of the world who were experiencing prosperity and privilege. It’s easier to say that we shouldn’t spiritualized the need for material things when all of our material needs are already being met. There is a difference between a criticizing a prosperity gospel which emphasizes wealth and a liberation theology which is fighting for people to have their basic needs met. There is a reason so many Marxist movements were popping up in Latin America at the time. It’s because the wealthy were crushing the average person. Why would they buy in to the benefits of that kind of economic system? I will agree that Marxist likely did try and take advantage of the situation. But it’s no different than the way capitalist try to attach them selves to evangelicals in North America. Faith based movements always need to guard themselves from being manipulated by politicians. But I don’t think this in any way discredits the truth of liberation theology.

[kayt_quilts]

Wow. I am so grateful for this video. I just lost my home with my husband and four children. We have no hope of finding another one right now, and everywhere we go for help, they’re out of funding or full. But through prayer, study, scripture, conversations with clergy, and some of your videos, I have been able to find myself in the strangest place where I am grateful for Christ even more because of it. I can’t explain it in a small area, but it was so clear to me when you said that “God favors the poor, ” how fortunate we are to be given an opportunity to see the shortcomings of the systems serving the poor in this country. I am looking back at the difficult battle I had coming to faith and realizing that all of these godly men I’ve conversed with over the past year and change are people who can use these insights to empower them to bring Christ to these communities in their suffering and in ways the secular world is failing them. Thank you for sharing your thoughts here!!

[Lincoln-ke]

Transformation of the heart via personal repentance is often overlooked and even spoken against by those fighting for a more secular "liberation"

[emmamcclellan]

I wasn't introduced to liberation theology until college, where it was presented uncritically by my professor. I think videos like this are necessary & can inspire people to dig deeper into the theology itself & criticisms against it.

[thechampvc]

Now that you've done a video on Liberation Theology will you do one on Distributism?

[JdAskins]

Thank you for the video, father.
The way some Christians stand opposed to social reform makes me wonder if they've read the Letter of St James. You make a good point that our main focus should be on Heaven, but scripture makes it clear we are supposed to also promote the physical wellbeing of people on Earth.

[kat]

I'm not Catholic (yet? been struggling with conversion since this past December) and I will say that liberation theology is a major area that is maintaining my interest and deepening my motivation to continue. Thank you for taking the time to talk about it.