Gandolfo & Potter, Re-membering the Reign of God, 285-90 pdf

Chapter 4: Luchamos por la Justicia

Decolonial Power in the Salvadoran Church of lxs Pobres

  • Collective Struggle

    • Emphasis on the necessity of working together for social change.

    • Neutrality equated with inaction; those not participating hinder progress.

    • Inclusion of all in the struggle; the need to transcend individualism.

Voices of the Struggle

  • Ángela from CEBs in Cacaopera

    • Highlights the importance of collective action for meaningful change.

  • Salvadoran Church of lxs Pobres

    • Chant: "¡Queremos obispos al lado de los pobres!" (We want bishops on the side of the poor!)

    • A prophetic challenge against coloniality within the institutional church.

    • Significant context during the 25th Anniversary of Archbishop Óscar Romero's assassination.

Contrast in Leadership

  • Archbishop Fernando Sáenz Lacalle

    • Not viewed as an ally; criticized for alignment with the powerful instead of lxs pobres.

    • Encounter with the church of lxs pobres at a vigil, exposing his abandonment of the impoverished.

  • Auxiliary Bishop Rosa Chávez

    • Seen as more aligned with the values of Romero, actively supporting struggles for justice.

Decolonial Desires of the CEBs

  • Desire for Institutional Change

    • Call for the church to serve the Salvadoran people genuinely in their struggles.

    • Emphasis on recognition of the knowledge and creativity among the impoverished communities.

    • Rejection of colonial ties in favor of solidarity with marginalized groups.

Epistemology and Action

  • Decolonial Knowledge

    • Involves balancing thinking and creative practices with action towards social change.

    • Decolonial turn requires engagement in collective activities for effective decolonization.

CEBS and Collective Agency

  • Communal Consciousness

    • Central to their action against oppression and envisioning a new world.

    • Integration of music, liturgy, and art to inspire collective movements for justice.

  • Service and Struggle

    • Commitment to diaconía or service towards ecological and human well-being.

    • Activities organized around communal struggles for liberation reflect their philosophy.

Confronting the Colonial Power Matrix

  • Control of Subjectivity

    • Central for decolonial objectives; challenges colonialism by reclaiming knowledge and identity.

    • Rejects individualistic modernity in favor of collective subjectivity.

  • Early Actions of CEBs

    • Involved in labor rights, denouncing violence, and advocating for healthcare and education.

    • Focus on basic human needs as primary expressions of poverty and injustice.

Evolving Understanding of Poverty

  • Intersectional Approach

    • Recognition of how colonial power limits perspectives on poverty and justice.

    • Contemporary CEBS acknowledge the interconnectedness of economic, political, and social issues.

Economic Solidarity

  • Colonial Economics

    • Critique of neoliberal capitalism's dehumanizing effects on marginalized communities.

  • Community Engagement

    • Creation of cooperatives and mutual aid initiatives; fundraising for community needs.

    • Examples of community practices, such as grain silos and local resource sharing, highlight collective economics aimed at survival and dignity.