The Legacy of Liberation Theology in Colombia The Defense of Life and Territory (original) (raw)

Liberation theology was very important in Latin America between 1970 and 1980. While it is less significant today, it has not disappeared. If we look at Colombia, we can see the pastoral and political commitment of the religious and the laity in various regions as they accompany marginalized communities, victims of government and parastatal violence , in conformity with their preferential option for the poor. Motivated by the crucified Christ, the heirs of liberation theology have developed a theology of life or of human rights. As human rights advocates, they identify among the causes of violence the policies of capitalist development, denounced as imperialist and responsible for the poverty of the majority of the population. This development has its origin in the parallel dynamics of social and international relations and the associated adaptation of the social movement. La teología de la liberación tuvo mucha importancia en América Latina entre los años 1970 y 1980. Bien que hoy ella sea menos relevante, no ha desaparecido. Si tomamos el caso de Colombia podemos ver el compromiso pastoral y político de laicos y religiosos presentes en diferentes regiones del país, quienes consecuentes ante su opción preferencial por los pobres están acompañando comunidades marginalizadas, víctimas de la violencia estatal y paraestatal. Inspirados en Jesús crucificado, los herederos de la teología de la liberación han hilado una teología de los derechos humanos o de la vida. Como defensores de derechos humanos, ellos identifican dentro de las causas de la violencia las políticas de desarrollo capitalista, denunciadas como imperialistas y como responsables de la miseria de las grandes mayorías. Esta trasformación se origina en la dinámica paralela de las rela-ciones sociales e internacionales y la adaptación consecuente del movimiento social. At first glance, it would seem that liberation theology had disappeared or at best that only a few members of its "old guard" remained. In my view, however , while there have doubtless been changes, they reflect a dynamic that has affected almost all social movements-the formulation of demands in human Leila Celis is a professor of sociology at the University of Quebec in Montreal, specializing in the study of social movements, violence, human rights, and Latin America. She thanks Abilio Peña, tireless defender of human rights in Colombia, for generously giving of this time to discuss this article with her and the LAP reviewers for comments that permitted its improvement. Victoria J.