The Liberational Theology Movement

The beginning of the liberational theology movement was centered in Latin America in the late 20th century. Liberational theology was a Roman Catholic movement that sought to apply religious faith by aiding poor and oppressed people in political and civil affairs; it was a way to include all members of the church, specifically in Third World countries. When the liberation theology movement began, people in Latin America believed that the only way to fully understand the bible was through the perspective of the less fortunate. In a sense, people thought God spoke through those who were suffering. The liberation theology movement was created because the economic state Latin America was in during that era, the importance of Catholic Faith in Latin America and the After the end of World War II, economic reconstruction around the world was a dreadful process. Although the economy in Latin America was steadily increasing, other countries reconstructed their economy at a quicker rate; consequently, Latin America’s world trade declined. The competitive economy

Ordained in 1959, Gutierrez formerly attended three universities where he earned his degrees in medicine, philosophy, psychology, and theology. Through is liberal views, he knew there needed to be change in the Roman Catholic Church in Latin America. After Vatican II, numerous Latin American leaders within the Roman Catholic Church turned to liberation theology. Gutierrez decided to evoke transformation by writing, “Teología de la liberación (1971; A Theology of Liberation)”; ultimately created the Liberation Theology movement. In an interview, Gutierrez states, “it is clear in the work of solidarity, we are not reflecting on God… but rather acting.” This ideology was the foundation of the liberation theology movement; hence, the two significant acts the Liberational Movement was founded