Day 2 of the
Continental Theological Congress
New Explanations and Questions
Bulletin 3
Continental Theological Congress
Unisinos, Sao Leopoldo/RS, Brazil
October
9, 2012
On day 2 of the Congress, the day began with an analysis led by Pedro
Rebeiro de Oliveira on the current reality in Latin America and the rest of the
world. He included an explanation of the social-cultural, economic and
political situation in Latin America.
In the conference of Dr. Jung Mo Sung of the Methodist University of Sao
Paolo, he stated that the dreams of small communities were taken by imperialism
and though liberation theology is emphasizing this, these circumstances continue
to persist. In the church there exists the tendency to idolize a dominant
system, one that seeks to control another. This, he stated, must be seen as an
ethic problem within churches.
Jung Mo Sung also mentioned the generational gap that exists between the
thought of liberation theologians and that of newer theologians who live fully
immersed in this modern world consuming technology. It´s necessary that these
new theologians are freed from themselves so that they can understand
liberation theology from the point of view of the poor. If theology is locked
within the world of academia and technology, it loses its sense of freedom.
The middle of the day was filled with workshops such as “The Woman in
Vatican II” in which it was said that women will not have a place in the
church´s current organization unless they are allowed to become priests.
The day ended with a session led by Chico Whitaker called “Another World
is Possible in the Latin American Context” who emphasized the need of a new
form of politics that reflect the cultural diversity in which dominant leaders
become more of facilitators. He emphasized the obligation for people to
contribute to change and continue to struggle for a better world.
_________________________________________________
It is not a new congress, rather one that is renewed, celebratory, and
determined in spite of Eclesial setbacks
Second Bulletin
Continental Theological Congress
Unisinos, Sao Leopoldo/RS, Brazil
October 7-11, 2012
The Continental Theological Congress began the week on Sunday, October 7th
with an important audio message that represented the majority of participants
from countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and the United States.
More than 700 people relived the birth of the Liberation Theology and were joined
by 7 Catholic and Protestant bishops.
The Congress began with a time of reflection where the Holy Spirit was
invited to enter in and impart wisdom on the participants. Later, P. Marcelo
Fernandez of Aquino, a rector of the University of Unísonos welcomed the congregants;
reminding them that liberation theology invites us into dialogue, discussion,
reflection, and emphasizes the necessity to explore new interpretations of the
Vatican Council II.
Agenor Brighenti, president of AmerIndia Continental spoke of the
context under which the Congress was assembled, describing the current global
situation of poverty. He paid homage to bishops (both Catholic and Protestant)
and theologians who had been prophetic figures in the ecclesial Latin-American
walk and had subscribed to Vatican II. Among those mentioned were Samuel Ruiz,
Sergio Méndez Arceo, Hélder Cámara, Gustavo Gutiérrez, José María Pirres,
Leonardo Boff, Jon Sobrino, and many others. He also recognized participants,
those leading workshops and all members participating in the Congress.
The afternoon was concluded with a panel called “A New Congress, A
Congress Renewed” led by the theologians Geraldina Céspedes and Jon Sobrino who
shared their history with the liberation theology along with new challenges and
needs they are facing. Geraldina pointed out the need for us to continue in the
process to struggle against the injustices that are sewed into our Latin
American and Caribbean history with a thread that is red with the blood of
martyrs. She reminded us that we must continue to remember the martyrs whose
memory encourages us and helps us say no to injustice.
Exceeding the expectations of many of the participants, the Congress
started with much excitement, intensity, and a prophetic voice that built the
desire to unite this theology within the communities across the continent. The
coming days will include the participation of Leonardo Boff, Gustavo Gutiérrez
(via video conference) and many more important participants of the liberation
theology movement.
_________________________________________________
Reliving Liberation Theology in the Latin
American Continental Theological Congress
Continental Theological Congress
Unisinos, Sao Leopoldo/RS, Brazil
October 7-11, 2012
Rosario Hermano, general
secretary of AmerIndia Continental announced what the Congress has planned over
for the 4 days. In the mornings there will be conferences and panels with
theologians and specialists as well as expositions about four themes: 1) New interpretations
and questions, 2). Christian hermeneutics, 3). Practice and mysticism, 4). Theological
perspectives. In the afternoons there
will be two types of activities: workshops whose objective is to build on the
knowledge of the participants through activities and sharing; and open panels that
will be on varying themes and provide a space for an exchange of ideas and
opinions. In the evenings there will be conferences open to all of the public. The
speakers include Chico Whitaker, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Andrés Torres Queiruga among
others.
Julian Cruzalta, a Dominican
monk and partner of Catholics for Choice, emphasized that the Congress wants to
pay homage to those who have constructed liberation theology but also will look
towards the future. He hopes that it will encourage churches and communities to
dialogue with one another from an ecumenical perspective. The Congress will ask
the question: What has caused so much poverty and misery over the last 50 years?
Theology must cause churches and their hierarchies to respond and ask the
question: What values does the church have and should the church promote to
respond the challenges of this time? Vatican II planned for a church that was
more horizontal and yet we continue to be a very vertical church in which all
stems from the pope, the participants of the Congress seek to bring attention
to this.
In the same way, Marilú
Rojas commented that the liberation theology has been fruitful in different
theological perspectives: feministic theology in Latin America, Latin theology,
and indigenous theology. Because of this, rather than speak of the end of
liberation theology, we will be able to speak of the fruits of this theology
that today are generating new lines of thought that bring diversity to this new
period. Women, since Vatican II, have a gained a new ecclesial space: have left
the domestic sphere and entered into the public and social spheres. This is the
type of advance that the Congress looks to achieve, in which women participate
in theological reflection and the promotion of social justice and human rights.
Finally Lucila Servitje, a
collaborator with the Ecclesial Observatory, said that she would be celebrating
with another congress in Rome on October 4th-6th, 2012,
organized by the Coordinamento Teologhe Italiane called “Theologians Re-read
Vatican II; Understanding a History, Preparing for the Future” (www.teologhe.org). Her main point of issue is that Vatican
II—centered in evangelism and the fundamental dignity of men and women—it is
giving hope to the situations that many women within and outside of the church
still experience.
The
Continental Theological Conference wants to mobilize theological communities
and churches throughout the continent. Because of this, it wants its results to
be spread more widely, using digital media to spread its message more
efficiently.
Live transmission of
the main conferences of the Congress can be found at:
Information on a
daily basis (bulletins, interviews, photos, texts and more) can be found at:
http://www.observatorioeclesial.org.mx/ and in http://www.unisinos.br/eventos/congresso-de-teologia/
For more information,
contact Gabriela Juárez Palacios at:
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