Liberation theology (original) (raw)

Abstract

Examines the basis of liberation theology and its application in Nicaragua.

Description

Until the end of the cold war, Marxism and Christianity were two of the most powerful forces in the modern world. While the Catholic Church officially denounced any attempts to find a common ground between the two, some members of the clergy -- particularly Catholics in Latin America -- claimed that when taken in conjunction, Christianity and Marxism could work together to achieve a more equitable society. This doctrinal blend became known as liberation theology. To its supporters, liberation theology was a solution to the seemingly endless cycle of economic and social stagnation through a combination of revolution, class struggle, and political activism on the part of the Church. To Pope John Paul II and many other observers, however, liberation theology was a radical teaching that threatened to justify the tyranny of Marxism. Caught in the center of the debate was Nicaragua, where the Catholic clergy retained significant power in the hierarchy of the leftist Sandinista regime. In this episode of American Interests, host Peter Krogh and guests discuss the politics and teachings of liberation theology, with a focus on Church-state relations in Nicaragua. Featuring Father Robert Drinan, Former Congressman and professor at Georgetown University Law Center, and Penn Kemble, a Nicaragua expert and consultant to the Institute on Religion and Democracy.

Rights Note

Subject

Location

Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean; Nicaragua;

Publisher

WETA-TV (Television station : Washington, D.C.)

Blackwell Corporation (Washington D.C.)

Georgetown University. School of Foreign Service

South Carolina Educational Television Network