Poverty and Injustice - The extent to which Liberation Theology offered a cultural challenges to the Roman Catholic Church.

A-level Eduqas Christianity.

Yes - poses a cultural challenge

Liberation Theology is very popular in Latin America.

L.America makes up a very large proportion of the Catholic population!

Yes - poses a cultural challenge

Demands change in the present life rather than promising it after death.

Yes - poses a cultural challenge

Some LT promotes violence and there is a connection to the ideas of Marxism and fighting to the death.

This is a challenge to the Church which promotes peace- use of weapons and violence can never be justified.

Yes - poses a cultural challenge

Base ecclesial communities can challenge the Church’s institutional structures.

Reject the dependence upon priests.

Pope Paul vi in Evangeli Nuntiandi warned against these communities as being critical of the Church and breaking themselves off from the leadership and authority of Rome.

Yes - poses a cultural challenge

It expects voluntary poverty, the giving up of wealth in solidarity.

Reverses Church hierarchy, placing the poor as those whom the Church serves.

NO cultural challenge

LT does have a biblical basis.

Example of Moses in Exodus where God liberates his people, the Israelites, from slavery.

This is what LT seeks to do for those suffering oppression in Latin America.

NO cultural challenge

Base ecclesial communities provide education for the poor.

Aligns with the views of both Pope Paul VI and Pope Francis that the Church should be ‘poor and for the poor’.

This is also supported by CST- social justice and equality for all as seen through CAFOD.

NO cultural challenge

Jesus challenged the cultural injustices of his time and LT follows his example.

Jesus liberated people from oppression, such as those outcast from society like lepers (*Crossan- the social aspect of Jesus’ ministry and miracles as social inclusion).

NO cultural challenge

-There has been no real relinquishing of ecclesiastical wealth on behalf of the poor.

-LT still requires priests to celebrate the Eucharist and accept Church structure.

-The Church has been clear in rejecting its links with Marxism as unspiritual.

-Still a structural dependence upon one man to intercede between us and God.

-Election of Pope Francis- Church unchallenged by LT.