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Liberation Theology in Europe: La Teología de La Liberación en Europa
Liberation Theology in Europe: La Teología de La Liberación en Europa
Liberation Theology in Europe: La Teología de La Liberación en Europa
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Liberation Theology in Europe
La Teología de la Liberación en Europa
- Dossier's Editors for this VOICES issue: Stefan Silber and José María Vigil
- Lay out by Lorenzo Barría
- Cover on original design of Maximino Cerezo Barredo
If you want to print this whole Journal on paper for a local edition,
please, contact the EATWOT asking for full resolution printable originals.
E A T W O T
Ecumenical Association Of Third World Theologians
Asociación ecuménica de Teólogos/as del Tercer Mundo
A S E T T
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CONTENTS - CONTENIDO
DOSSIER
Stefan SILBER
Presentation ............................................................................................. 11
Presentación ............................................................................................ 15
Abstract:
This paper deals with the experiences made in ten years of
networking Latin American Liberation Theology in German spea-
king countries in Central Europe. During this time, Liberation
Theology and our perception of it have changed on both sides of
the Atlantic Ocean. The first two chapters deal with these transfor-
mations. Finally, the paper discerns, how transformed and trans-
forming Latin American Liberation Theologies still present urgent
challenges to churches and societies in Central Europe.
Resumen:
Este artículo trata de las experiencias realizadas en diez años
de trabajo en red con Teología de la Liberación latinoamericana en
países de habla alemana en Europa Central. Durante este tiempo, la
Teología de la Liberación y nuestra percepción de ella han cambia-
do en ambos lados del Atlántico. Los dos primeros capítulos discuten
estas transformaciones. Finalmente, el documento discernirá, en
qué medida las teologías latinoamericanas de la liberación -trans-
formadas y transformadoras- presentan desafíos urgentes a iglesias
y sociedades en Europa Central.
1 Cf. Stefan Silber 2006. Vielschichtig und lebendig. Neuere Entwicklungen in der
Theologie der Befreiung, in: Herder-Korrespondenz 60/10, pp. 523-528, here:
528.
2 Cf. https://sites.google.com/site/befreiungstheologie/. It is destined to the
networking of German speaking theologians, groups and institutions interes-
ted in Latin American Liberation Theology, mainly in Austria, Switzerland and
Germany.
66 · Stefan SILBER
3 Even when I use the general term “Europe”, my focus in this paper will always
be the German speaking countries.
4 See e.g., the textbook of Bruno Kern 2013. Theologie der Befreiung (UTB 4027),
Tübingen / Basel: A. Francke.
Creating Networks, Building Bridges · 67
5 See: https://sites.google.com/site/befreiungstheologie/Home/32-Juni2017.pdf.
Creating Networks, Building Bridges · 69
9 This is surely the case of Marcella Althaus-Reid’s “Indecent Theology” and many
other creative methodologies in its wake. Cf. Marcella Althaus-Reid 2005.
La Teologia Indecente. Perversiones teológicas en sexo, género y política.
Barcelona: Bellaterra. See also the plurality reflected in the above mentioned
2nd volume of the documentation of the Amerindia Congress in Belo Horizonte:
Oscar Elizalde Prada / Rosario Hermano / Deysi Moreno García (ed.): Iglesia
que camina con Espíritu y desde los pobres. Talleres y Comunicaciones
Científicas, Montevideo: Amerindia 2017; download via http://bit.ly/2sqwhWr.
Creating Networks, Building Bridges · 71
this, because we can see, that Liberation Theology in Latin America also
is dealing with many different areas of dialogue and conflict.
Between 2012 and 2015, many of us dedicated ourselves to the
memory and actualization of the 50 years of the II. Vatican Council and,
sharply accentuated, with the Pact of the Catacombs associated with it.10
Our interest for and dedication to Latin American Liberation Theology
demanded this close discussion, not only because of the prominence
of figures like Dom Helder Camara in it, but mainly because both the
Council and Liberation Theology stand for the same theological approach
to a Church concerned with humankind, especially the poor, and justice.
When Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope four years ago,
something similar occurred within our network: Although the Pope does
not declare himself a Liberation Theologian, and cannot, according to
many, count as one, and although most of us, in the past, have been very
ready to criticize the Pope, the Curia, and the whole Roman Catholic
system of vertical and hierarchical organization, we could sense a very
positive reaction to the words and deeds of this Latin American Pope,
and some of us entered eagerly into the diffusion and interpretation of
his message.11
At the same time, members of our network engaged in political
movements for the reception of protection and respect towards refugees
and migrants in Europe. There were organized and publicized partici-
pations in huge protests against radioactive waste management, coal
mining, protection of international financial institutions, production and
exportation of weapons, warfare in the Middle East, sexism, homophobia,
racism and neo-nazism in Germany, and many others. In comparison to
the political continence of vast majorities in our churches and the colla-
boration with conservative and neoliberal politics of other grand parts,
these were small partisan activities. But they shed a light on the necessary
political consequences of our faith, if we take it seriously and commit
ourselves to an effective and credible option for the poor.
Another important area of commitment of our members is the
broad field of global solidarity, international justice and institutions of
since contexts are shifting, and Europe has changed a lot and still is
transforming, it is necessary to ask ourselves time and again, which are
the challenges that our context presents to Liberation Theology and, vice
versa, in which way a transformed and transforming Liberation Theology
challenges our theological praxis in our own context.
I cannot do this here exhaustively, but I would like to share some
preoccupations that seem important to me as someone living in Germany
and looking at Europe through the lens of Latin American Liberation
Theology.
Our task is the construction of a genuine “European Liberation
Theology” in a geographical, contextual, and cultural sense. It is not
enough to reproduce liberationist methodology applying it to our con-
texts: We need to recreate Liberation Theology here, create our own way
of liberating theology from its eurocentrist captivity and develop a theo-
logy that contributes to the liberation of the poor.
The starting point, however, from my point of view, should be
the same: The Option for the Poor. This is, because Liberation Theology
has taught us, that this option is not an invention made by some Latin
American theologians, but the fundamental structure of the Church of
Jesus Christ. The Option for the Poor is an option made by God and
made flesh in the incarnation. So we need to turn theologically to the
poor if we want to create our own liberating theology in Europe.
Turning to the poor, in Europe, we will have to pay tribute to the
diversity and plurality of poverty and exclusion within our contexts.
Economic poverty, homelessness, sickness, joblessness and precarious
labour conditions not necessarily go hand in hand. Violence and discri-
mination against women, racism, xenophobia, exclusion of children and
elderly people and many other forms of group focused enmity persist in
our societies and call for a highly differentiated as well as coordinated
approach.
But very soon we will realize also that local and global contexts
are merging rapidly and are already becoming indistinguishable: Forced
and voluntary migration confront us with biographies of poverty that
arrive from foreign places and alien cultures, yet are product of European
capitalist exploitation and imperialist (neo-)colonization, of wars fought
with weapons and ideologies made in Europe. Global climate change and
environmental destruction also remit us to causes and responsibilities in
our continent.
So the Option for the Poor, in Europe, will link us to poor and
exploited people in Europe, to migrants and refugees, and to the poor
74 · Stefan SILBER
14 See, for instance: Sebastian Pittl 2017. Für Christus, Volk und Vaterland.
Die politische Theologie neurechter Bewegungen [12.07.2017], in: http://
www.feinschwarz.net/fuer-christus-volk-und-vaterland-die-politische-theolo-
gie-neurechter-bewegungen/
15 See the contribution of Josef Estermann in this issue.
Creating Networks, Building Bridges · 75
16 Segundo, Juan Luis 1983. Teología abierta, Vol. I, Madrid: Cristiandad 21 [my
translation].
76 · Stefan SILBER
Pluralität, Fragmente,
Zeichen der Zeit
Aktuelle fundamentaltheologische Herausforderungen
aus der Perspektive der lateinamerikanischen Theologie der Befreiung
Stefan SILBER
ISBN 978-3-7022-3193-7
304 Seiten; 22.5 x 15 cm, 32 €
Abstract:
This paper deals with the experiences made in ten years of
networking Latin American Liberation Theology in German spea-
king countries in Central Europe. During this time, Liberation
Theology and our perception of it have changed on both sides of
the Atlantic Ocean. The first two chapters deal with these transfor-
mations. Finally, the paper discerns, how transformed and trans-
forming Latin American Liberation Theologies still present urgent
challenges to churches and societies in Central Europe.
Resumen:
Este artículo trata de las experiencias realizadas en diez años
de trabajo en red con Teología de la Liberación latinoamericana en
países de habla alemana en Europa Central. Durante este tiempo, la
Teología de la Liberación y nuestra percepción de ella han cambia-
do en ambos lados del Atlántico. Los dos primeros capítulos discuten
estas transformaciones. Finalmente, el documento discernirá, en
qué medida las teologías latinoamericanas de la liberación -trans-
formadas y transformadoras- presentan desafíos urgentes a iglesias
y sociedades en Europa Central.
1 Cf. Stefan Silber 2006. Vielschichtig und lebendig. Neuere Entwicklungen in der
Theologie der Befreiung, en: Herder-Korrespondenz 60/10, pp. 523-528, aquí
528.
2 Cf. https://sites.google.com/site/befreiungstheologie/. La plataforma está des-
tinada a la creación de redes entre teólogos, grupos e instituciones en el área
de habla alemana, ante todo en Austria, Suiza y Alemania, interesadas en la
teología de la liberación latinoamericana.
78 · Stefan SILBER
3 En este texto, aun cuando uso el término más general de “Europa”, siempre me
referiré a los países de habla alemana.
4 Cf. p. ej. el tratado de Bruno Kern 2013. Theologie der Befreiung (UTB 4027),
Tübingen / Basel: A. Francke.
Creando redes, construyendo puentes · 79
2. Transformaciones y desarrollos
La Teología de la Liberación contemporánea ya no es la misma de
1984, cuando fue condenada por primera vez por el Vaticano y la noti-
cia de este hecho llenó incluso periódicos alemanes ordinarios. Incluso
5 Véase https://sites.google.com/site/befreiungstheologie/Home/32-Juni2017.
pdf.
Creando redes, construyendo puentes · 81
14 Cf., p.ej. Sebastian Pittl 2017. Für Christus, Volk und Vaterland. Die politis-
che Theologie neurechter Bewegungen [12.07.2017], en: http://www.feins-
chwarz.net/fuer-christus-volk-und-vaterland-die-politische-theologie-neure-
chter-bewegungen/.
Creando redes, construyendo puentes · 87