The Church and Political Struggle

Catholics throughout Latin America will soon mark the twentyfifth anniversary of Pope John XXIII's great papal initiative convening the Second Vatican Council. Some will celebrate the event joyfully while others may express chagrin or regret. Vatican II has proved to be a pivotal event for Catholicism, especially in Latin America, where it revitalized religious life. During the ensuing twenty-five years, the church has taken on a host of new commitments that have led to a serious rethinking of its mission. One important consequence has been the development of liberation theology. The very term now inspires some and alarms others, having become an Orwellian "buzz word" that implies a multiplicity of meanings for diverse listeners. This essay will offer some reflections on liberation theology, treating it as only one dimension of the multilayered phenomenon that is the changing Latin American church. The viewpoint adopted here is that when Latin Americanists study the church, they need to pay attention to the dynamic relationship between the institution and the belief system that gives it meaning and purpose. Attention must also be given to the bonds that link religious thought with pastoral action

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• Author-Title Index

  Open Access•Edwin Aguilar, Jose Eloy et al.•Latin American Research Review•1996

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• Country-Region Index

  Open Access•Mark Thurner, Francine Masiello et al.•Latin American Research Review•1996

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• Tradition and change in the Latin American catholic church

  Michael Dodson•Renaissance and Modern Studies•1993

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