Bonus Sample: Liberation Theology or Magical Thinking?

About this episode

Matthew investigates the implications of Pope Leo XIV's appeals to Liberation Theology in relation to spiritual bypassing and Catholic Social Teaching.

Matthew investigates whether Pope Leo XIV's appeals to Liberation Theology represent genuine solidarity with the poor or a sophisticated form of spiritual bypassing. Drawing on Ole Jakob Løland's analysis of Francis's papacy, Remski traces how Rome has metabolized Liberation Theology into compatibility with 135 years of Catholic Social Teaching by absorbing its pastoral language while suppressing its structural conclusions. This involves a close reading of Cardinal Ratzinger's 1984 rebuke of Gutierrez et al. Ratzinger’s framing of empathy as temptation prefigures the "toxic empathy" discourse of our present moment. Francis's eulogies for Oscar Romero and Gustavo Gutiérrez honored their sacrifice but erased their politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Guest: Matthew Remski

Topics covered

• Liberation Theology
• spiritual bypassing
• Catholic Social Teaching
• empathy
• politics
• Pope Francis

Keywords

• Liberation Theology
• spiritual bypassing
• Pope Francis
• Cardinal Ratzinger
• toxic empathy
• Catholic Church
• Oscar Romero
• Gustavo Gutiérrez

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Catholic Social Teaching, Rome

Books & works: Liberation Theology, toxic empathy, Ole Jakob Løland's analysis

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