Jesuit Superior General says give more time to Liberation Theology

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Father Adolfo Nicolas, Superior General of the Jesuits

Madrid, Spain, Nov 20, 2008 / 06:08 pm (CNA).- The Superior General of the Jesuits, Father Adolfo Nicolas, said this week he was disappointed that Liberation Theology has not received a “vote of confidence,” and he said the controversial approach should be given more time to mature.

In an interview with El Periodico, Father Nicolas said Liberation Theology “is a courageous and creative response to an unbearable situation of injustice in Latin America. As with any theology, it needs years to mature. It’s a shame that it has not been given a vote of confidence and that soon its wings will be cut before it learns to fly. It needs more time.”

During the interview, Father Nicolas admitted that the Jesuits have diminished in number but he said the Society of Jesus is still “the most theologically and doctrinally visible group” in the Church, and therefore, “It’s only natural that we get more attention,” he said alluding to the supposed vigilance of the Society by the Pope.

Asked about the feeling many have that the Jesuits “look down upon other orders,” Father Nicolas said, “This is a weakness we have and it is quite common. This comes from the fact that in the Society we have always insisted on the concern for quality and in-depth formation. The problem is that we are human beings, and we don’t realize that that capability has been given to us, it’s not because of our pretty face.”

Regarding the hostility of the Spanish government towards the Church in some matters related to social policy, Father Nicolas said, “Because I am used to the climate of moderate secularism that is present in Japan, where I lived for many years, I find the Socialist government to be, with all due respect, immature, in the sense that unemployment, educational and immigration problems are so great that I think time is being wasted in worrying about relations with the Church.”

He said it was “possible” that the Church in Spain has “a tendency to be reprimanding.” “I’ve always found it bothersome and incomprehensible that a priest lectures his people. What right does he have to do that? It’s a mistake,” Father Nicolas said.

Comments: 21

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Joseph
Mumbai, India 01/05/2009 06:39 PM EST

Fr.Charles,
It is better that there is a gap between the ordained and the lives of real people than there is a gap between the ordained and the Almighty. In the first case, the ordained will be guided by the Almighty, and if you have faith, the Almighty will bridge the gap with ease, but in the second case the gap is too wide - it is the gap between Heaven and Hell.
Besides, one of the very basic tenets of our Faith is obedience to the successor of Peter, and Fr.General is pointing us the other way...
Our Church is not a private club where the majority rules. People like Fr.Nicolas (and yourself too, I think)have taken a vow of obedience.. why don't they just abide by it. Does a General question his Commander-in-Chief? or a soldier his Captain? Did Jesus give us any option to discuss His teachings and decide that other ways could achieve the goal, and so we could follow those ways? Did not Jesus obey His Father to the extreme end? Why is obedience not treated as a virtue by the clergy especially when they gain their spiritual position by binding themselves to obey?

Published by: Kathie
Canada 11/27/2008 04:55 PM EST

Obedience to the Holy Father is primordial to all true followers of Jesus.
Liberation theology has
been condemned by Pope Benedict XVI as well as
Pope John Paul II. Father Adolfo Nicolas must be removed as
superior general of the Jesuits ASAP.

Published by: Jason
New Jersey USA 11/25/2008 01:52 PM EST

It's funny, I just read another article where I commented on "catholic" colleges and ended it with "Are the Jesuits even Catholic anymore".

Reading this article, now I know the answer

Published by: Bruno mueller
St. Louis, MO 11/25/2008 12:26 PM EST

Dear Fr. Inferior General Nicolas,
we had all the liberation we can possibly bear. Just look out the window into the real world for a minute. I hope your time of deception is up too.

Published by: Christian
Frankfort/KY/USA 11/25/2008 09:38 AM EST

Poor St. Ignatius of Loyola is rolling in his grave....one of many Orders to fall during the Great Apostasy.

Say it with me: Vatican II, the heretical new theologies, and the New Mass are heretical and bad. We must become Catholic again....

Published by: P.J.David
Chennai/TN/India 11/25/2008 06:53 AM EST

Heretic! Such a non-sense from the mouth of a Superior General?Jesuits- Liberation theology/Marxism.Its time that the Holy Father asks him to resign from his office before he corrupts the entire Society of Jesus.More and more people must petition to the Holy Father to act forth rightly. Mother Mary intervene with Jesus to save the world from such Heretic clergy.

Published by: Cecily McNeill
New Zealand 11/24/2008 08:31 PM EST

I agree with Richard - the church at this difficult crossroads needs more prophetic leaders like Fr Nicholas who clearly have the gospel at the centre of their lives and mission and do, as Jesus did, relate it to the events and needs of this world. Congratulations Jesuits for electing such a prophet.

Published by: onlein
Minot/ND/USA 11/24/2008 08:01 PM EST

The Vatican and Liberation Theology people agree there are serious wrongs with capitalism. The Pope has spoken out strongly for social justice. So have liberation theology folks. Same essential message. Why not leave it at that?

Published by: Rowan
Canada 11/24/2008 05:18 PM EST

It appears that the opponents of liberation theology need to be given time to mature too. The 1984 Instruction was on 'certain aspects'. This is what Fr Adolfo is suggesting. LT needs time to mature and overcome its problematic elements. Aquinas was condemned, don't forget. Time is needed on both sides.

Published by: JAngel
Bensalem, PA, USA 11/24/2008 12:41 PM EST

Why open the field to a possible greater confusion to what we already have? Do we not have enough heresy and departure from the Truth as it is? Why not focus on re-structuring catechism so that it is taught the right way and the faithful learn their Catholic Faith.

Published by: Paul C
Germantown, MD, USA 11/23/2008 11:22 PM EST

The SJ needs a revolution of its own - and I don't mean a takeover by catholic naivite's (dupes) of communism - he already heads it.

Published by: John Cooper
United States 11/23/2008 07:43 AM EST

Father in Heaven,
Please redirect the brilliance of the Jesuits away from chasing Caesar, and towards reflecting the brilliance of your Son, Jesus.

Published by: Richard
South Africa 11/22/2008 03:37 PM EST

Rate: Regular

Congratulations Fr Nicolas! A man who is willing to think forward and about the real issues that affect people's lives! The west does not have all the answers as they like to think, especially theologically! In a Church that is navel gazing more and more we need prophets like Fr Nicolas. There is hope for a Church which is at a very difficult crossroads!

Published by: peter
australia 11/22/2008 03:24 PM EST

Balanced, thoughtful, positive.It is better for Church & State to network for a better society.

Published by: Brenda
Auburn, CA, USA 11/22/2008 08:54 AM EST

You do wonder how these type of people manage to rise to the top. We have had 40 years of Father Nicolas' thinking, and where has it gotten us? Let's go back to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and leave Marx for the atheists.

Published by: Mrs. Rene O'Riordan
Ireland 11/22/2008 07:57 AM EST

A popular priest (with the Press) here said publicly on the tele that he didn't believe in hell then sometime later he didn't believe in heaven either! Nobody took him to book on it. He does a lot of social good; looking after drug addicts etc. But when he's dead he will leave them as orphans as he doesn't teach the gospel and he himself is their saviour. Guess what, he's a Jesuit! - Rene

Published by: Pierre St. Croix
PQ 11/21/2008 08:28 PM EST

Based on the comments, the General seems to have a way at mystifying fellow Catholics and awing his hearers outside. Those that would presume to trifle with his position entertain the faintest notion of what the order consists of.

Published by: K Ryan
San Diego/CA/USA 11/21/2008 08:10 PM EST

Why is Fr Nicolas supporting this theology? This “theology” originated in Latin America in the late seventies and was condemned by the Church on August 6, 1984, in the "Instruction on Certain Aspects of the “Theology of Liberation,” signed by the then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.
No wonder the Jesuits are dying as order and force in the church.

Published by: Fr. Charles
Hales Corners, WI USA 11/21/2008 07:36 PM EST

Bravo for Fr. Nicolas. He is grounded in reality and has a prophetic sense about him. Simplistic party-line answers betray a lack of awareness of the current gap between many ordained (including some bishops)and the lives of real people.

Published by: Danny
Dallas, TX 11/21/2008 03:21 PM EST

Rate: Regular

"Soon its wings will be cut"

Rip Van General. Those wings were cut a long time ago. And given later developments it was proven the right thing to do: Marxist revolution helped the people not a lick. It's almost as if he hasn't read a newspaper since 1985

Published by: Fr. AW
Omaha/NE/USA 11/21/2008 02:09 PM EST

Rate: Good

What right does the priest have to do that? WITW? How about being configured to Christ the Prophet? What about the Prophet Ezekiel's warning to those shepherds who fail to admonish the sinner? As Fr. Corapi would say, "I'm not going to hell for you." How can Fr. Nicolas run a priest-dominated Catholic order when he doesn't begin to understand the Catholic priesthood? For this ignorance or contrarity toward Catholic truth and rejection of the Church's firm teaching on Liberation Theology, Fr. Nicolas should be removed by the Holy See immediately.

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