Rev. Gustavo Gutiérrez, a Peruvian priest whose work with the South American poor has been guided for decades by his concept of "Liberation Theology," will receive the Pacem in Terris Award at Christ the King Chapel at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Fr. Gutierrez will be the 43rd recipient of the annual award presented by a coalition of sponsors within the Diocese of Davenport that includes St. Ambrose University. Past recipients of the award which honors champions of peace and social justice from around the world, include Saint Teresa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rev. Martin Luther King, President John F. Kennedy, Dorothy Day, Sister Helen Prejean and Lech Walesa.
From a Catholic Messenger story:
Fr. Gutiérrez, 88, is recognized as a prominent figure in Latin American Catholicism. His 1971 book "A Theology of Liberation" led many to regard him as a principal founder of liberation theology, which seeks to free the poor from unjust economic and social conditions. Liberation theology emphasizes the biblical conviction of a preferential option for the poor.
"This is an internationally known theologian and author, someone who has plugged away when liberation theology was thought to be subversive, someone who was under the microscope. His writings were never condemned, but certainly were scrutinized, and now are being seen as having great value for a church that is envisioned by Pope Francis as a church of mercy, a ‘field hospital,'" said St. Ambrose Chaplain Rev. Charles Adam, a member of the Pacem In Terris committee. "Liberation theology is a way of walking and living with the poor in imitation of Christ. That's the philosophy of Pope Francis. They're both South American priests who served among the poor."
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