For many years, Brazil was one of the nerve centres of Liberation
Theology in Latin America. The cradle of figures such as Leonardo Boff, former Franciscan protester, ecologist, ideologue of this current of Marxist thought.
But Brazilian Catholicism is much more than a group of “liberationists” and “grassroots ecclesial communities”: it is also the cradle of movements that are deeply loyal to the Pope. One of these, the Heralds of the Gospel brings nothing but Joseph Ratzinger’s theology to their country.
“What makes man a man” is the title of the second international conference organised by the The Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) Vatican Foundation. The first was held in Bydgoszcz, in Poland at the end of 2011.
The second conference was held at the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro between 8 and 9 November. A number of representatives from over 90 universities discussed Benedict XVI’s thinking.
The meeting addressed the pending issue of the scarcity of Catholic thinkers in Latin America. Is there a local theology aside from that of the “liberationists” who support a grassroots, critical, “people’s” Church that is generally on a collision course with the Holy See?
These issues are more current than ever as Liberation theologians have just concluded their continental conference, held between 7 and 11 October in Sao Leopoldo, Brazil.
“Liberation theology seemed so great but it soon became clear it offered no prospects and brought no joy. By reflecting on how to move forward, one risks going back to the past or is tempted not to practice theology any more,” the President of the Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) Vatican Foundation, Giuseppe Scotti, told Vatican Insider speaking about theological paths taken in Latin America.
Although Scotti admitted there was still no one in the region who was worthy of the Ratzinger Prize (also known as the “Nobel of Theology”), he said he was convinced “Latin America had far more possibilities than one could imagine.”
“So far no specific individuals stand out as potential prize winners. But we have noticed some professors who are very active, culturally prepared and able to maintain ties with Rome, in the good sense of faith but with a local slant,” he explained. He then went on to add that “theology cannot be Eurocentric. Mankind learns to speak about God not just in his language but also in his cultural, human and social context, with all the joys and pain that come with it.”
Now Ratzingerian thinking is about to arrive in Boff’s homeland. Not Ratzinger’s thinking as Pope but as a theologian.
That very theologian who 50 years ago (during the Second Vatican Council) was considered a liberal and is today considered o be profoundly progressive.
“The modern world perceives this man as culturally provocative,” according to Giuseppe Scotti anyway.