FAQ

 Q: Aren't Marxism, socialism, communism, etc condemned by the church?

While the church has, in the past, condemned what it considered to be extremely materialistic or atheistic forms of socialism or communism such as in Divini Redemptoris, it has never condemned all forms of communist ideology. The catechism itself speaks of "atheistic and totalitarian ideologies associated in modern times with socialism or communism" and not of socialism and communism in and of itself. However, even if the church had condemned these two ideologies themselves, it still wouldn't make these condemnations infallible dogma which catholics can not advocate to change.

Q: Isn't communism inherently atheistic? Didn't Lenin and Stalin persecute the Orthodox and Catholic churches?

No, communism isn't inherently atheistic. There are many religious, Christian and explicitly Catholic forms of it, including "Catholic Bolshevism" in pre-WWII Italy and Liberation Theology in Latin America.

As for Lenin and Stalin, they persecuted the Orthodox church because it was aligned with the Tsar and reactionary forces in the Soviet Union. Stalin later, however, allowed the Russian Patriarchate to be restored, disbanded the League of Militant Atheists and reopened thousands of churches during and after the war. As for Catholicism, it is impossible to know because it was a very small minority in the USSR and reports that Catholics were killed for their faith are of questionable reliability.

It is worth noting that, at least according to the book Hurrah Revolutionaries: The Polish Canadian Communist Movement, 1918–1948, Stalin himself told a Catholic priest, Stanislaus Orlemanski that the USSR was not hostile to the Catholic church. Stalin was also praised by Camilo Torres Restrepo.

Q: Are there organizations that advocate for liberation theology?

Yes! Both historically and contemporary! Today, the largest and most well-known is probably the Colombian Camilista Union - National Liberation Army. Historically, there have been other groups, such as the Montoneros and Movimiento Camilo Torres. 

Q: Weren't all liberation theology and Catholic socialist figures purged by the church?

No. While they were occasionally at odds with the church hierarchy, the church never forcibly removed them. Two examples: Camilo Torres Restrepo was laicized at his request, and Helder Camara voluntarily retired from his position.

Q: Is liberation theology exclusively Catholic?

No! While this site mainly advocates for Catholic socialism, there have been other socialist and liberation theology-like traditions in other churches. Most notably, there is one in Anglicanism, mainly represented by English Anglican priest Hewlett Johnson, who this site respects and honors.

Q: Didn't Camilo Torres Restrepo say he wasn't a communist and that communism's philosophical system is incompatible with Christianity?

Yes, but later advocates of liberation theology, such as Manuel Perez Martinez, found a way to successfully uphold both Camilo's ideas and communism. There is also the possibility that Camilo may have changed his views later on, as some reports state that he had a "forest church" with a portrait of Fidel Castro next to a Crucifix and the ELN under him upheld both Catholicism and Marxism-Leninism. During his time at the ELN, he also translated texts by Lenin, Mao and Castro, which may also indicate a change of attitude.

Q: I want to start learning on liberation theology, where do I start?

For starters, check out our continuously updated list with liberation theology resources!