Latin America and the Catholic Church Essay - 746 Words

Running head: LATIN AMERICA AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH xxxx HUMN xxx xxxx February 11, 2011 In 1983, Pope John Paul II visited Nicaragua in response to word that a growing alliance between priests and Marxists revolutionaries was emerging in Latin America. Historically, the Catholic Church in Europe had taken a strong anti-communist stance. And so the emerging alliance troubled Pope John Paul II despite the fact that priests claimed they were simply doing what Christ would do in championing the interests of the poor. When news began spreading throughout Nicaragua that Pope John Paul II would be visiting, the reform minded Catholics of the country became hopeful that the pope would somehow lend his support to the revolutionary†¦show more content†¦6). But liberation theology, according to conservative critics, is a type of socialist Christianity. Its philosophical underpinnings suggest that change comes through political activism and even war and revolution if peaceful means have failed. In addition, liberation theologians view sin as the root of poverty and capitalism as the most ruinous form of sin on earth. Thus, Liberation Theologists argue that capitalism should be confronted as pure evil and replaced by a more just and equitable socialist system. The Pope unequivocally denounced these ideas as ideologically misguided. Many Nicaraguan Catholics were disappointed with the Pope’s position on political action because they felt like he missed a chance to bolster the revolution an d support much needed change for the people. They had lived under years of tyranny and oppression at the hands of the conservative regime. And thousands of innocent Nicaraguan citizens had suffered gross social injustices and even death at the hands of their oppressors. If the Pope had supported their revolutionary cause, the people would have enjoyed the backing of the Catholic Church. And if that had occurred, it would have provided the people with a sense of spiritual support in their fight for freedom and equality. But the Pope’s denouncement of Liberation Theology and theShow MoreRelatedLatin American Religions Essay examples624 Words   |  3 PagesLatin American Religions University of Phoenix November 12, 2012 What are some major attributes of Latin American Catholicism? Identify and describe at least two distinctions and include how they are distinct from Catholicism elsewhere. The Central American War had changed the priorities of the Catholic Church in Latin America. In the 1980’s, the clergy’s had decided to go against the Catholic Church mainly the Vatican despite the various threats, and began to help the poor which were strugglingRead MoreLiberation Theology Essay865 Words   |  4 PagesLiberation theology in Latin America was first introduced in the late 1960’s, although it became famous after the writing of Gustavo Gutierrez. 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