La palabra en el bosque (The Word in The Woods) by Jeffrey L. Gould, Carlos Henríquez Consalvi (review)
The term "liberation theology" refers to a diverse and at times contradictory set of beliefs and practices originating in Catholic social teaching as developed in Latin America following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). Though the most profound influence of this movement has arguably been among the university educated and thus relatively affluent, liberation theology has been most notable for its "preferential option for the poor." Other important elements include its ecumenical spirit, rapprochement with secular social reformism including some currents of Marxist thought, and influence beyond Catholicism, Christianity, and Latin America. Though considered to be in decline during the reigns of Popes John Paul II and Benedict I, the apparently favorable disposition of current Pope Frances towards liberation theology reveals a more complex realm of history, culture, and politics than frequendy assumed by those unfamiliar with the internal dynamics of the Catholic Church. As is usually the case with complicated ideologies and related practices, determining what liberation theology actually meant and continues to mean is a task most constructively undertaken in reference to specific contexts.