Curia head calls liberation theology 'error'

From Desmond O'Grady in Rome CARDINAL Joseph Ratzinger has described liberation theology as a "fundamental danger for the Church's faith".
He made the comment in a paper prepared at Pope John Paul's request. It has just been published by the Italian rightwing Catholic monthly, 30 Giorni.
Cardinal Ratzinger, head of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was one of a group of theologians who discussed liberation theology. at the Pope's request, last September.
Cardinal Ratzinger says that liberation theology has its "centre of gravity" in Latin America but "exists also in India, Sri Lanka, The Philippines, Taiwan and Africa".
He acknowledges it "has an attractive aspect as Christianity which is on the side of the poor". This, he adds, is the "nucleus of truth" in liberation theology which "makes it all the more dangerous". He admits that the error would not find adherents if the Church gave full witness to the Gospel message.
Cardinal Ratzinger sees liberation theology as a result of a mixture of the Bible and Marx.
He claims liberation theology mistakenly accepts class struggle and identifies the biblical idea of the poor with the proletariat. He argues that these premises mean that any criticism of liberation theology by ecclesiastical authorities is interpreted as being hostile to the poor.
Another consequence, according to Cardinal Ratzinger, is that the Church is seen not as hierarchy and laity but simply as the people, the "popular Church".
Cardinal Ratzinger maintains that for theologians of liberation "the concept of history absorbs the concept of God and revelation". He sees liberation theology as an acceptance of materialist-Marxist philosophy in which history has assumed the role of God.
The cardinal illustrates what he considers the errors of liberation theology through quotations from writers such as the Jesuit, Jon Sobrino.
As well as listing the defects of liberation theology, Cardinal Ratzinger admits its appeal to contemporary man because "it seems to link Christianity with all progressive forces".
It is understandable", he writes "that ever more theologians, priests and religious, especially in the context of Third World problems, are attracted by this new interpretation of Christianity".
He says that to those attracted by liberation theology, anything else can seem an evasion from reality. He concludes by saying that, as it is erroneous, the problem is how to oppose it.
Cardinal Ratzinger's article shows some of the disadvantages of having a well-known theologian at the head of the congregation. His statement is in line with past polemics against theologians such as Johannes Baptist Metz, but carries great weight because of his curial office.
It is noteworthy that the Vatican Theological Commission produced a paper on the theology of liberation, but apparently Pope John Paul throught it necessary to appoint yet another group of theologians to study the theme.