Word: medellin
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...delicate balance that discouraged many progressives by its ambiguity. A source of more distress was Colombian Bishop Alfonso López Trujillo, the CELAM secretary general who reportedly had received Vatican approval to stack the group with conservatives to avoid a reprise of the 1968 CELAM II in Medellin, Colombia. There, a liberal minority pushed through strong documents that inspired the Marxist-tinged "theology of liberation." Since the Puebla statement does not condemn liberation theology−or even mention it by name−progressives felt relieved. Pope John Paul was described by aides as "delighted" with the document. Said CELAM...
Since the 1968 CELAM session at Medellin, Colombia, where ringing calls for political and economic justice were issued, the continent has been roiled by bitter church-state conflicts. Angry debate raged over priestly activism, and some younger priests and missionaries responded to governmental oppression by embracing Marxist ideas under the banner of "liberation theology...
...Pope reaffirmed the Medellin decrees, but spoke of them as "our point of departure." In the decade since, he said, "interpretations have been given that have been at times contradictory, not always correct, not always beneficial for the church." He did not elaborate on this intriguing statement, but sources close to John Paul indicate that he is deeply concerned over Marxist infiltration among Latin American priests. From this first glimpse, it seems that John Paul will seek to fend off further Marxist inroads while blending the church's spiritual resources with firm commitment to social justice and human rights...
...Vatican, liberation theology went too far, as did Medellin, where, it decided, a liberal minority had steamrollered its ideas past an apathetic majority. In 1972 Vatican officials favored the CELAM board's selection of auxiliary Bishop Alfonso López Trujillo from the staunchly conservative Colombian hierarchy as secretary-general, or top staff executive. López Trujillo is a firm, shrewd anti-Marxist who once declared, "I don't believe that in Latin America Marxism has any possibilities. Nor does a capitalism that turns its back on mankind." He is a foe of liberation theology and apparently...
...bishops a "preparatory document" for the current meeting. It contained only tepid criticism of militarism and of violence aimed at priests. The poor were offered "the happiness of the [spiritual] kingdom of which no human sorrow can deprive them." Outraged liberals charged that a campaign was afoot to "betray" Medellin. Brazil's bishops took the lead in attacking the document; a new, somewhat less conservative version was subsequently prepared. The Brazilians also rebuffed two top officials of the Vatican's Justice and Peace Commission who made a quiet trip to persuade them to mute political statements at CELAM...