What Is Liberation Theology?

           Liberation theology is a fusion of the Catholic faith and left-wing political rabble rousing which developed in Latin America in the 1960s and has flourished there ever since. It emerged from the generally poor economic conditions prevalent in many Latin American countries whose societies often exhibit extremes of wealth and poverty.

           The Vatican has been staunchly opposed to Liberation theology, seeing it as a perversion of the true Catholic faith, one that portrays Jesus as a subversive figure, and has the effect of turning the mind of the believer to worldly concerns rather than to the grandeur of God.

           Over the course of time, many of those most active in the field of liberation theology have been sanctioned or rebuked by the Vatican and there is an ongoing power-struggle in Latin America between the grass roots "liberation theology" movement, and the official church hierarchy.  Brazil is the world's most populous Catholic country and also forms one of the centres of liberation theology.