scholarly journals Latin American Jesuit Social Centers and Environmental Justice: Advocacy and Support to Local Communities and Knowledge-Building from below

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 664-678
Author(s):  
Sergio Coronado Delgado
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Environmental Justice ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Knowledge Building ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Main Argument ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
Advocacy Strategies

This article explores a possible answer to the broad question of how the Jesuits and their institutions contribute to environmental issues in Latin America. The paper focuses on the work of Latin American Jesuit social centers, specifically regarding mining issues. The main argument is that acute environmental conflicts caused by the mining boom in the region are being attended to by advocacy strategies inspired by the environmental justice movement. The article is divided into three sections: first, it describes the broad characteristics of the current mining boom in Latin America; second, it offers examples of the advocacy strategies developed by two Jesuit social centers in Colombia and Honduras; third, it analyzes the place of such work within the diverse currents of the environmentalism movement. It concludes by pursuing a connection between the advocacy work in question and relevant theological reflections widespread within the Jesuits, the Catholic Church, and the global society.

scholarly journals PRAISE OF THE CONVERT: BELIEVE AND BELONG FROM THE CATHOLICITY OF LATIN AMERICA

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-339
Author(s):  
Felipe Gaytán Alcalá
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Religious Groups ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
The Church

Latin America was considered for many years the main bastion of Catholicism in the world by the number of parishioners and the influence of the church in the social and political life of the región, but in recent times there has been a decrease in the catholicity index. This paper explores three variables that have modified the identity of Catholicism in Latin American countries. The first one refers to the conversion processes that have expanded the presence of Christian denominations, by analyzing the reasons that revolve around the sense of belonging that these communities offer and that prop up their expansion and growth. The second variable accounts for those Catholics who still belong to the Catholic Church but who in their practices and beliefs have incorporated other magical or esoteric scheme in the form of religious syncretisms, modifying their sense of being Catholics in the world. The third factor has a political reference and has to do with the concept of laicism, a concept that sets its objective, not only in the separation of the State from the Church, but for historical reasons in catholicity restraint in the public space which has led to the confinement of the Catholic to the private, leaving other religious groups to occupy that space.

The Catholic Church at Puebla

Worldview ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 22 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 13-15
Author(s):  
Renato Poblete
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Human Life ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Profound Impact ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

The Third General Assembly of the Latin American Episcopate took place last February in the Mexican city of Puebla. Without doubt it will make a profound impact upon the evangelizing action of the Church in Latin America. The documents produced at Puebla, like those produced in Medellin ten years earlier, will give rise to reflections that will find their way into the diverse pastoral plans of each nation.Neither Medellin nor Puebla can be considered isolated phenomenon. On the contrary, each should be seen as fruits of a maturing process in which Christian people, together with their pastors, express both the depths of their anguish and their high hopes and visions. That vision encompasses raising people from subhuman situations to a fuller experience of human life. Such experience should be expected to bring people together in brotherly love and lead naturally to a greater openness to God.

The Religious Question in the Congress of Gran Colombia

1974 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
David Bushnell
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Political Conflict ◽  
Colonial Period ◽  
Roman Catholic Church ◽  
Specific Content ◽  
The Status ◽  
Religious Question

In all the confusion of nineteenth century political conflict in Latin America, clearly defined doctrinal issues and policy disagreements . are often hard to detect. The clearest—it is generally agreed—had to do with religious matters. The specific content of debate might vary with time and place, but everywhere in Latin America a fundamental question was posed: i.e., to what extent the Roman Catholic Church should continue to enjoy the status it had acquired during the colonial period, when it held a religious monopoly, a vast amount of wealth, extensive influence in the field of education, and much more besides. Few Latin American leaders opposed all innovation on the ecclesiastical front, and even fewer wished a total transformation; but there was ample room for controversy, with "liberals" normally seeking more rapid and fundamental changes than "conservatives" were prepared to accept.

Prophetic Martyrdom in Modern Latin America

2020 ◽  
pp. 236-255
Author(s):  
Edward T. Brett
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Vatican Ii ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
Religious Sisters ◽  
Church Workers ◽  
Modern Latin America ◽  
The Church

Following the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), over a thousand priests and religious sisters and brothers were exiled, imprisoned, tortured, or murdered in Latin America by authoritarian governments. A much larger number of lay Church workers were also incarcerated, brutalized, or killed. Most suffered or died because, following the ideals of Vatican II and the Second Latin American Bishops Conference at Medellín, Colombia (1968), they committed themselves to the amelioration of the marginalized in their countries, even though they were fully aware that to do so placed their lives in great peril. This chapter treats a select number—mostly priests and nuns—who were killed because of their prophetic devotion to the poor. It is limited to the nations of Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Central America. It also touches on the bitter divisions that resulted in the Church as a consequence of this new religious activism. Finally, it demonstrates why the deaths of so many religious-based social justice activists forced the institutional Catholic Church to reexamine its outdated criteria for martyrdom.

scholarly journals Nossa América interpela a Igreja

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (266) ◽  
pp. 360
Author(s):  
Pedro Assis Ribeiro de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Economic System ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Political Climate ◽  
The World ◽  
World Economic ◽  
America Latina

A importância sociológica da religião não se mede pelo número de seus adeptos, mas por sua capacidade de formar o “clima moral” da sociedade. A América Latina, constituída para ser economicamente explorada pelas metrópoles e ainda na periferia do sistema econômico mundial, vive hoje uma onda de participação política dos setores populares em busca de democracia e de uma outra AL possível. Esses sinais dos tempos interpelam a Igreja católica, onde a pastoral comprometida com os Direitos Humanos e com as lutas populares tem sido contestada por setores conservadores. O V CELAM reafirmará a participação da Igreja na construção desse novo “clima político”, ou se preocupará apenas em aumentar o número de seus membros?Abstract: The sociological significance of religion is not measured by the number of its followers but by its ability to produce a “moral climate” in society. Latin America, still on the periphery of the world economic system and constituted to be economically exploited by the metropolises is currently experiencing a wave of political participation on the part of the most popular sectors of society in search of real democracy and of other possibilities for Latin America. These signsofthetimes are challenging the Catholic Church where the pastoral committed to the popular struggle and to Human Rights is being contested by the conservative sectors. Will the 5th Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM) reaffirm the Church’s participation in the construction of this new “political climate” or will it only be concerned with expanding its membership?

scholarly journals Neoextractivismo en América Latina y Colombia: una reflexión desde la ecología política

2017 ◽  
pp. 15-53
Author(s):  
Carolina Arias Hurtado
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Environmental Justice ◽  
Political Ecology ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Local Level ◽  
The Political ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
The Social ◽  
America Latina ◽  
Social Environmental

En el artículo, se realiza una aproximación a la problemática del neoextractivismo en el siglo xxi desde la ecología política en el ámbito regional, nacional y local. En primer lugar, se presenta un panorama sobre las contradicciones del desarrollo neoextractivista en América Latina como expresión de la crisis multidimensional y la necesidad de búsqueda de alternativas. Enseguida, se examina la situación actual del neoextractivismo en Colombia, a partir del reconocimiento de los conflictos socioambientales y las luchas sociales por la justicia ambiental. Por último, se analiza el caso del municipio de Marmato (Colombia), lugar emblemático por la constante defensa del territorio como un patrimonio y un derecho.Palabras clave: neoextractivismo, ecología política, conflictos socioambientales, justicia ambiental. AbstractNeo-extractivism in Latin America and Colombia: a political ecology reflexion In this article an approach is performed to the problematic of neoextractivism in the 21st century at a regional, national and local level from the political ecology view. In the first place, it presents a panorama on the contradictions of the neo-extractivist development in Latin America, as an expression of the multidimensional crisis and the needing to search for alternatives. Next, it examines the current situation of neo-extractivism in Colombia from the * Estudiante del doctorado en Estudios del Desarrollo de la Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas (México). Correo electrónico: [email protected] Controversia 207 abril 2018.indd 17 6/25/2018 8:20:18 PM 18 Controversia 208 recognition of the social-environmental conflicts and social struggles for environmental justice. Finally, the paper analyzes the case of the municipality of Marmato (Colombia), emblematic in the defense of the territory as a heritage and a right.Keywords: neo-extractivism, political ecology, social-environmental conflicts, environmental justice.

scholarly journals Defending Human Rights Through Social Action: The Role of the Catholic Church in Latin America in the 1960s–1980s

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madelyn Evans
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Social Action ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Roman Catholic Church ◽  
Social Mission ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

Since the earliest days of colonization, religion – in particular, the Roman Catholic Church – has been a driving force in the Latin American politics, economics, and society. As the region underwent frequent political instability and high levels of violence, the Church remained a steady, powerful force in society. This paper will explore the relationship between the Catholic Church and the struggle to defend human rights during the particularly oppressive era of bureaucratic-authoritarianism in Latin America throughout the 1960s–1980s. This paper seeks to demonstrate that the Church undertook the struggle to protect human rights because its modernized social mission sought to support the oppressed suffering from the political, economic, and social status quo. In challenging the legitimacy of the ruling national security ideology and illuminating the moral dimensions of violence, the Catholic Church became a crucial constructive agent in spurring social change, mitigating the effects of violence, and setting a democratic framework for the future.

Latin America

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Néstor O. Míguez
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Religious Movements ◽  
New Religious Movements ◽  
Ecumenical Dialogue ◽  
Protestant Churches ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
Politics And Culture ◽  
Indigenous Religions

The chapter gives a brief historic account of the religious background of Latin America from the Conquest to the present day. It deals with the imposition of the Catholic Church over the indigenous religions, and with the syncretism and diversity thus created, especially after the arrival of Protestant churches and new religious movements. It considers the development from harsh religious confrontation to ecumenical dialogue in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the appearance of Latin American liberation theology, and the growth of evangelical and Pentecostal missions. The crucial importance of the Second Vatican Council, of the Latin American and Caribbean Catholic Bishops Conferences, and of the presence of the ecumenical movement in the areas of politics and culture is described. The consequences of the election of Pope Francis as the first Latin American pope are considered. The chapter concludes with a panorama of the ecumenical and interreligious situation of the continent.

Ten Years of Change in the Church: Puebla and the Future

1979 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-312
Author(s):  
Alexander Wilde
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Community Or ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Future ◽  
State Authority ◽  
The Church

The Puebla meeting of the Latin American bishops in early 1979 capped a decade of far-reaching and surprising change in the Catholic Church. A new, local-level unit—the “ecclesial base community” or CEB—has given Catholicism a vitality in society it has not known for centuries. At the same time, the Church has achieved an unprecedented integration as an institution nationally and regionally, in Latin America as a whole. It has found itself, through an unexpected historical dynamic, increasingly committed to the cause of the poor in deed as well as word, And it has been thrust into political confrontations with state authority throughout the region with an intensity and scope unmatched since the nineteenth century.

The Modernized Church in Peru: Two Aspects

1964 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-318
Author(s):  
Fredrick B. Pike
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Active Role ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

Throughout Latin America the Catholic Church has embarked upon a process of modernization. The key element in modernization has been the assumption of an active role in the quest for economic betterment of the conditions in which a majority of the population lives. Realizing that a modern nation is an integrated nation, the Church seems to have adopted as its motto: A Modem Church in a Modern Nation. Consequently, it has begun to help Latin American republics become nations through the integration of previously excluded groups into society.

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