Gustavo Gutiérrez: Latin American Liberation Theology

Gustavo Gutierrez is foundational to the movement known as Liberation Theology. In this video, we go through the life and work of Gustavo and examine how his complete life has been influential to his work and his legacy. (Also, bear with me with the Spanish at the beginning, I'm no pro!) Intro: 0:00 Introduction 0:50 Early Life 1:25 Studies 2:44 Back to Peru 3:58 Forming a Theology 4:56 Liberation Theology Actualized 6:11 God's Preferential Option for the Poor 7:24 Why the Preferential Option for the Poor? 9:15 Acceptance and Support 10:31 Legacy Gustavo Gutierrez was born in 1928, in Lima, Peru to Hispanic and Quechua parents. He faced some problems early on from 12-18 when he was diagnosed with osteomyelitis which left him bedridden and wheelchair-bound. But he finally recovered enough at the age of 19 and he went to the National University of San Marcos for a few years. During this time he felt called to become a priest and so started his studies in Santiago Chile. As he furthered his studies, he decided to travel to Europe and learn in Belgium, France, and Rome. While studying he was introduced to many Christian and Non-Christian influences that would impact the work and mindset of Gustavo. After returning to Lima, he was met with the dramatic difference between Europe and Latin America. Europe was focused on highly intellectual discussions and did not exactly impact the needs of the individual. Gustavo was surrounded by people in severe poverty, and if Christianity was not going to liberate, or speak into their lives, then it wasn't truly a liberating faith. It was at this moment that Gustavo found his purpose in being a Priest. After the Second Vatican Council, and the Second Episcopal Conference of Latin America, Gustavo finally had an avenue in which to build this theology of liberating those oppressed. The term they coined was Liberation Theology and focused on the idea titled a preferential option for the poor. These two ideas were based on the concept that Christianity should work on behalf of the poor and oppressed. This concept would be what Gustavo would fight for the rest of his life. Gustavo would become one of the most recognizable names in the Liberation Theology movement and would lay the foundation for many other movements to begin. Much of the work that these other movements have done is based upon the groundwork Gustavo established. The reason they were able to do this was that Gustavo championed an understanding of theology based on the idea of context. Gustavo believed that all of our theology is based upon our own context and that universal theology cannot fully connect God with his people. Although this has brought some push back from other theologians, this is an aspect of Gustavo's work that many have adopted in the last 50 years. Although Gustavo has gained widespread respect and attention, Gustavo still carries a humble mindset and tries to work on behalf of the poor and oppressed both within and outside of his context. He has been accepted and recognized by many different organizations and schools, and even by the Catholic Church. All of this to say, the life and work of Gustavo is still playing out as I write this in early 2021. Currently, Gustavo holds the John Cardinal O'Hara Professorship of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. Links for further research: https://biography.yourdictionary.com/... https://www.americamagazine.org/faith... https://ensayistas.org/critica/libera... (PDF) GUSTAVO GUTIÉRREZ: THE FATHER OF LIBERATION THEOLOGY | Lun Doungel - Academia.edu