Liberation Theology and Black liberation theology
I first listened to the Bill Moyer interview of Pastor Jeremiah Wright and then the National Press Club speeches. And actually since the Moyer's interview, I've been thinking about the liberation theology that has gotten American and other bishops and theologians in to trouble. ANd even Wright himself says that the liberation theology of the sixties is not like the black liberation theology.
But when you see a disproportionate response to what one individual says like we have with Reverend Wright, you wonder what code words are bothering people here. So for the historically ignorant (myself) can anyone tell me commonalities and differences in black liberation theology and the liberation theology of the sixties?
I'm a little interested in how they intersect and if the backlash against Wright interssects with the objections of the vatican against liberation theology.
Thanks.
The 'Black liberation
The 'Black liberation theology' thing is a crutch for people like the Reverend Wright in that it justifies their existence. Its blackness is his strength. On the other hand when Benedict spoke to the UN,when Jesus lived a life of freeing jews from the bonds of the Temple priesthood,when Dorothy Stang lost her life in Brazil and all through history the church has engaged in liberation theology. The judgement that comes from the church in some instances has arisen,certainly not from scripture but from authoritarianism. How many parables and examples in the gospels are liberation theology?
I'm no expert in Catholic
I'm no expert in Catholic Liberation Theology, but I lived through the time in which it began. My sense is the Catholic Liberation Theology received its impetus from the Second Vatican Council. Pope John XXIII opened the theological windows that the Councils of Trent and Vatican I had closed.
The challenge of Communism in Central/ South America stimulated Catholic missionary response to it, and to the systemic cultural suppressions (colonialism) of the people. "Black" liberation theology confronts the cultural injustice of slavery, etc, to which black people have been subjected for millennia.
Commonalities are cultural subjugations of people and faith responses to facilitate people in surviving and rising above bondage and injustice. It is my sense that, historically, Black Liberation Theology far predates Catholic Liberation Theology (which is likely to experience a resurrection after its opposition by Pope John Paul II.