National Subsets: Brazil

One of the best known of ‘liberation theologians’. Following his academic studies at universities in Brazil and Germany, he was ordained a Franciscan priest with feet firmly rooted in basic community life. An authentic expression of the Christian gospel must start with the condition of the poor and powerless rather than the voice of institutional authority – church, state or wealthy establishment. This is the message of his Jesus Christ the Liberator and Church: Charism and Power. He was twice silenced by the church hierarchy for his seeming Marxism; he eventually chose the role of lay Christian from which to teach and communicate practical engagement with the need for social and political transformation, and earth-serving ecology.

Life

• http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/teachers/teachers.php?id=270

Writings

• https://amadlandawonye.wikispaces.com/2006,+Falkiner,+L+and+C+Boff,+Liberation+Theology+and+Scripture

• http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/205773?eng=y

• http://liberationtheology.org/people-organizations/leonardo-boff 

 Video

Leonardo Boff - Culture of Peace (Spanish with English subtitles) (2 mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvQ4D95ICn8

Life

Brazilian Archbishop known for his identification with justice for the poor. From a background in which he was identified with a church establishment which was closely linked to military dictatorship, the second half of his life was radically different. His understanding of the Christian gospel led him to expect the church to challenge colonialism. He promoted the development of local base communities of Christians within Brazil and was a rallying point for non-violent social transformation within Latin America and internationally.

http://www.ttstm.com/2010/02/february-7-helder-camara-priest-bishop.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-archbishop-helder-camara-1115091.html

http://www.sofn.org.uk/printme/sofia/68helder_camara.html

http://iglesiadescalza.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/dom-helder-camara-monsignor-romero-and.html

Writings

The Spiral of Violence http://www.alastairmcintosh.com/general/spiral-of-violence.htm

Pastoral Poems http://www.jmm.org.au/articles/31367.htm

Essential Writings (print selection) http://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/book_20091002_1.htm

Globally influential educationalist, best known for the priority he gives to individuals taking charge of their own learning and lives amidst the oppressive structures of society, through a transformative process described as ‘conscientization’. Much of his work based in Latin America, in the employ of both universities and UNESCO, and his ‘praxis’ approach to education was adopted by local Catholics in ‘base community’ education programmes. This subsequently led to his recognition by and involvement with the World Council of Churches.

Life

• http://infed.org/mobi/paulo-freire-dialogue-praxis-and-education

• http://ptoweb.org/aboutpto/a-brief-biography-of-paulo-freire

• http://www.ibe.unesco.org/publications/ThinkersPdf/freiree.PDF

• http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el_198802_timpson.pdf

Writings

• http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Freire.html

Video

A conversation with Paulo Freire (8 mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFWjnkFypFA