Question

Liberation Theology was the movement within the Catholic Church that crystallized after the 1968 Bishops Conference in Medellin, Colombia. The Latin American bishops:

A- agreed that the Church should take a "preferential option for the poor"
B- agreed on the formation of "Christian base communities" where believers would gather to read and discuss the bible and engage in "consciousness raising" interactive learning
C- stressed Catholic teachings designed to undermine, rather than reinforce, Latin America's ancient patterns of hierarchy and hegemony
D- had something in common with Marxists: that Latin America required sweeping and fundamental change

Answer 1

Liberation Theology began in Latin America within the Catholic Church aiming to address social inequities, combining Christian ethics with political activism. The actions from the 1968 Bishops' Conference effectively supported the movement's ideals, highlighting a solidarity with the poor and a challenge to oppressive systems. The correct answer is option A.

Step-by-step explanation:

Liberation Theology was a significant movement that emerged within the Catholic Church in Latin America during the 1950s and 1960s. Its core ideas revolve around addressing social injustice, discrimination, and poverty through combining Christian principles with political activism. At the 1968 Bishops Conference in Medellin, Colombia, the Latin American bishops highlighted a "preferential option for the poor", supported the formation of "Christian base communities", emphasized Catholic teachings to challenge traditional patterns of hierarchy, and shared common ground with Marxists in the view that Latin America required profound changes to address systemic issues.

This movement portrays the church as a vehicle for political and social transformation, and it is known for encouraging the faithful to interpret the scriptures as a call to action against oppression and poverty. In time, liberation theology became an international movement and influenced other areas such as feminist theology, promoting social justice for women as well. The impact of this movement extends beyond Latin America and continues to be relevant in the context of global discussions on poverty and social inequalities.