10-24-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
October 24, 2024
Back in the mid-80’s, I was taking my first religion classes, and among the diverse writers I was encountering was a group often referred to as Liberation Theologians. I read Rosemary Ruether and James Cone, and then we learned that Gustavo Gutiérrez was going to be visiting our small university in Enid, Oklahoma. I had not yet read anything he had written, but he was the father of the Liberation Theology born in South and Central America. I had heard his name and was actually waiting for some more money so I could buy the book, “A Theology of Liberation.” His lecture was not very well attended, but I was mesmerized by the experience, and even after the lecture, I had a few moments to chat with him. I don’t remember what I said, but I can guarantee you that I probably came off as a goofy and star-struck undergraduate who probably needed to do a lot more reading before actually speaking to him. Nonetheless, he was very kind.

Gustavo Gutiérrez died two days ago in his home country of Peru at the age of 96. Over the years, I have continued to follow him as much as I could. Pope Benedict XVI was not a fan of Gustavo Gutiérrez or Liberation Theology, but there are those who believe that Benedict did not fully understand Liberation Theology. The current Pope, Francis, has a very different take on Liberation Theology, and, in fact, wrote Gustavo Gutiérrez a letter in which the Pope thanked him for his contributions to “the Church and to humanity, through your theological service and your preferential love for the poor and the discarded of society.”

One of my favorite quotes from Gutiérrez is, “…the poor person does not exist as an inescapable fact of destiny. His or her existence is not politically neutral, and it is not ethically innocent. The poor are a by-product of the system in which we live and for which we are responsible.” Gutiérrez always believed that with true empathy, love, and hope, the systems of injustice could be transformed. I want to believe as he believed.

For the saints who have challenged us and even brought a bit of discomfort to our lives, we hesitantly say, “Thank you!” Holy God, you continue to call forth those who give voice to the voiceless, while not allowing for the marginalized to be forgotten. Amen.