Peruvian priest Father Gustavo Gutiérrez, who started the powerful movement of liberation theology, dies today in Lima at the age of 96—with his 1971 book Theology of Liberation, which advocated active participation in tackling poverty and social injustice, Gutiérrez, a Dominican friar and theologian, changed the ideas of the Roman Catholic Church.
Although his progressive ideals were embraced by most of Latin America, conservative Church members opposed him since some of them saw his beliefs as perilously close to Marxism.
Why Did Gutiérrez Clash with the Vatican?
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who would become Pope Benedict XVI, was among Gutiérrez’s most prominent detractors. Deeply worried by liberation theology, Cardinal Ratzinger cautioned that its incorporation of “Marxist ideas” would inspire revolt and Church split. He called the movement even a “fundamental threat to the faith of the Church.”
Gutiérrez insisted, meanwhile, that his theology was “rootfully firmly in the Bible” rather than Marxist. Seeing as the Church’s purpose is to serve the most underprivileged segments of society, his approach concentrated on them. Once, he said, “No one is born to suffer; only to be joyful. We have created these conditions; poverty is a human construction.”
How Did Relations with the Church Evolve?
Once another Latin American became Pope Francis, the conflict between Father Gutiérrez and the Vatican calmed somewhat. She praised the new pontiff for pushing “a poor Church for the poor,” Gutiérrez connected with him.
In a letter commemorating Gutiérrez’s 90th birthday in 2018, Pope Francis recognized his services to the Church and humanity. “Thank you for what you have contributed to the Church and humanity by your theological service and preferred love for the poor and the discarded of society,” the pope said.
What Shaped Gutiérrez's Intellectual and Spiritual Journey?
Gutiérrez spent a life distinguished by intensive academic study before being a priest. In Peru, he first studied medicine and literature; then, in Belgium, philosophy and psychology; lastly, theology in France. Though he constantly dismissed claims that he was a Marxist, it was during his time in Europe that he came into the writings of Karl Marx, which would eventually shape the course of his thinking.
Gutiérrez discovered when he returned to Peru that the Church was, in his perspective, “answering questions that weren’t being asked.” He thought the Church hierarchy had grown apart from the daily hardships of its lowest members. Seeing liberation theology as a solution to this divide, he contended that the faith and resiliency of the impoverished had much to teach the clergy.
As he so frequently said, the impoverished “demonstrated day after day how hope could spring among suffering.”
Why Was Liberation Theology So Controversial?
Liberation theology became a flashpoint for controversy, notably when some of its more extreme adherents joined revolutionary movements in Latin America. For instance, Liberation theology joined Nicaragua clerics who backed the Sandinistas in their attempt to topple the Somoza government, hence fuelling charges that the movement was intrinsically political and revolutionary.
Gutiérrez, who insisted that his theology sought to be a spiritual guide rather than a radical manifesto, nevertheless separated himself from this extreme tendency. “Liberation theology is about understanding the Gospel through the lens of the poor,” he declared once, “not through the lens of armed struggle.”
How Did Gutiérrez Touch the Lives of His Parishioners?
Notwithstanding the issue, Father Gutiérrez was regarded by his parishioners as a man of tremendous humility and compassion. Initially meeting Gutiérrez in a spiritual retreat in 1978, one individual recalled him as someone who exuded “a happiness which stemmed from doing good, from his dedication to the poor.” Gutiérrez was observed to have a unique talent for making theology understandable to the young.
“He was well-known as a theologian, but he interacted with people via discussing chess, traditional music, cinema, and his support of the Alianza Lima football team.” He presided at weddings, including for some of his friends, fusing a personal connection to daily life with solid religious statements.
“I feel tremendous gratitude for his life and all that he has contributed to the Church,” another parishioner married to Father Gutiérrez said.
What Is Father Gutiérrez's Legacy?
Father Gustavo Gutiérrez’s legacy is one of optimism, empathy, and relentless poverty relief efforts. Through his writings and ministry, he pushed the Church to consider its part in combating injustice and inequality. Inspired by his theology of emancipation, which argued that the Church should be a lighthouse of hope for people most in need, many people throughout Latin America and the globe found inspiration.
He frequently said, “We are not born to suffer, but to be happy. ” This hopeful message defined his life and work and will remain relevant long after his death.
