New Vatican document on liberation theology 'out by Christmas'

Boff calls for further talks
FRANCISCAN Fr Leonardo Boff said he could be led to "deepen" his thought on liberation theology following the review of his arguments by the Vatican's doctrinal authorities.
But the Brazilian priest, a leading liberation theologian, told reporters minutes after his September 7 meeting wish the head of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, that the session had been a "good" opportunity to "explain my arguments on this book."
He also said the Vatican's latest critique of liberation theology represents a "European point of view" and needs further documentation with help from "those involved in liberation theology."
"It is a very good day because we in Brazil today have independence Day and for me it is also independence of this problem in Rome." the priest said in halting English.
He said that he had been told by "insiders" at the congregation to expect a response from the cardinals, who make up its membership, by Christmas or the first part of 1985. The response of the cardinals, Fr Boll added, will then go to the Pope who, he said "has the last word."
Shortly after the meeting, the Vatican press office issued a statement, developed by Cardinal Ratzinger and Fr Boff, describing the meeting as "a conversation."
Fr Boff said that during the meeting, which took place in a small room within the congregation building, he had the "freedom to express myself."
"I am not here to win a fight", he explained after the meeting, "just to explain the truth as I see it." He added that there has been no attempt to silence him , on the issues but admitted that the cardinals could lead him to "deepen his thought." The brief joint statement said the conversation "had developed in a fraternal spirit" and concerned issues which had been presented in a May 15 letter to Fr Hoff in which Cardinal Ratzinger cited "problems after reading the priest's book."
The Vatican did not specify which aspects of the book were in question. Fr Boff, however, during the press conference said that among the issues of concern were ecclesiology, his methodology, and the language in which he expressed himself, when he criticised church authority.
Earlier in the day Fr Bofrs brother, Servite of Mary Fr Clodovis Boff, also a wellknown Brazilian theologian, told National Catholic News Service the congregation had expressed concern that Father Leonardo's book used "language which is too strong when it was critical of the church and the way in which power is exercised in it."
Fr Boff also said that the meeting with Cardinal Ratzinger, which was followed by a second meeting which also included Brazilian Cardinals Aloisio Lorscheider of Fortaleza and Cardinal Paulo Arns of Sao Paulo, was only a first step in the congregation process.
Further steps he said will include a study by the cardinals who comprise the congregation of the 50-page defence which he brought to the meeting. That study, he said, will take place in October.
Fr Boff said the congregation's recent writings on liberation theology also were discussed and that Cardinal Ratzinger indicated that in preparing a further document on liberation theology, he would be open to input from Latin America.
Fr Boff further said he thinks "the new text must be made from the perspective of one where one lives liberation."