Proclaiming the reign of God in a suffering world: The movement from development to liberation

What is it about?

This article will develop a theological foundation that calls the church to address the root causes of poverty as a key element of proclaiming the Good News, and will conclude with specific and concrete recommendations for doing so. The article places liberation theology in dialogue with Catholic Social Teaching and with the experiences of faith-based development agencies. The article illustrates the ways that liberation theology has challenged Catholic Social Teaching in its thinking about how to respond to economic marginalization, insisting that charitable aid is insufficient and highlighting the difference between “development” and “liberation.”

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Why is it important?

Mission today involves encounter with extreme poverty. Faced with overwhelming need, how do we respond in a constructive, effective way to reduce the pain and vulnerability of the communities we encounter? Rather than aid programs that lead to dependence, this article proposes accompaniment that leads to resilience and liberation from poverty.