FRANCIS Congratulates Liberation Theologian on 90th Birthday
(Rome) Francis has congratulated the Dominican Gustavo Gutierrez, the
"father" of Marxist liberation theology, on his 90th birthday.
The
Catholic Church Maximum Leader sent a letter of congratulation to the
Peruvian theologian. It is an award bestowed upon the Liberation
Theologian for the first time in his life. The relationship with Rome
was for a long time very different.
The papal
letter is dated May 28th. Gutierrez was born on June 8, 1928 in Lima.
With his book published in 1971 Teología de la liberación ("theology of
liberation", German edition 1973) he coined the name for a whole
movement, whose currents sought an alliance between Christianity and
Marxism and some are still looking for.
The
first contact between Gutierrez and Francis during the current
pontificate was in the Fall of 2013, at the urging of the then CDF
Gerhard Müller.. Peru's primate, Juan Luis Cardinal Cipriani Thorne,
said then, "Müller is a good theologian, but a bit naive." The Peruvian
cardinal could not understand the sudden courting of Gutierrez and
liberation theology by Rome. Cipriani Thorne left no doubt that
Liberation Theology, a name coined by Gutierrez, has inflicted "great
damage" on the Church. He also did not know if Gutierrez had "corrected
himself", the cardinal said.
At
that time it was not yet known what kind of sympathy Francis had
for leftist and even left-radical movements and parties, especially in
Latin America.
Gutierrez has been received by
Francis three times since autumn 2013, most recently in January at the
Apostolic Nunciature in Lima. The congratulatory letter in the text:
Gustavo Gutierrez
Dear brother:
On the occasion of your 90th birthday, I am writing to congratulate you and assure you of this important moment in your life of prayer.
I join in your thanksgiving for God's grace and thank you also for what you have done for the Church and humanity through your theological service and your love for the poor and the outcast of society. Thank you for all efforts and for your form to address the conscience of each individual, so that no one remains indifferent to the drama of poverty and exclusion.
With these wishes, I ask you to continue with your ministry and prayer, bearing witness to the joy of the gospel.
And, please, I ask you to pray for me.
May Jesus bless you and guard the Blessed Virgin.
brotherly,
Francisco
Tempora mutantur.
