In recent decades, from a theological point of view, the Church in Latin America has gone from being a "receiving" church to being a "protagonist" church. This happened thanks to the dynamic development of a new way of practicing theology. Latin American post-Conciliar theology presents a new existential, kerygmatic and methodological approach based on a wise balance (hermeneutic circle) between orthopraxis and orthodoxy. The article presents and attempts to critically analyze the most important events of the period from the first Latin American Episcopal Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1955 to the second in Medellin in 1968, which laid the foundations for the birth of post-Conciliar Latin America theology: the rise of CELAM, the choice of John XXIII, the Cuban Revolution and the Vatican Council II and especially the Constitution Gaudium et Spes, which introduces a new theological paradigm that recognizes the historical realities of pluralism of nations and cultures, as well as social, political and economic structures. Undoubtedly, the election of Cardinal Bergoglio as Pope is a "sign of the times" that makes the richness and freshness of Latin American theological reflection powerfully join the world theological discourse.
The category of option for the poor emerged in Latin America at the turn of the 60s and 70s of the 20th century, as a result of authentication of faith and personal, communitarian, social and ecclesiastical life. The article consists of three parts. In the first part, the key question of the article is discussed, namely: “What is the Preferential Option for the Poor?” In the second part, the place of the poor in God's plan of salvation and in the mission of the Church, are presented. The final part, deals with the issue of the option for the poor as a sign of the credibility of the Church. Experiencing God in the context of poverty and injustice in the modern world makes the option for the poor a sign of the credibility of the Church and Christianity.
PL
Kategoria opcji na rzecz ubogich powstała w Ameryce Łacińskiej na przełomie lat sześćdziesiątych i siedemdziesiątych XX wieku jako owoc audytu wiary, osobistego, wspólnotowego i eklezjalnego życia. Artykuł przedstawia jej istotę i związek z zagadnieniem wiarygodności. Część pierwsza odpowiada na pytanie: co to jest preferencyjna opcja na rzecz ubogich? W części drugiej omawia się miejsce ubogich w Bożym planie zbawienia i misji Kościoła. W części ostatniej autor wskazuje na związek opcji na rzecz ubogich z wiarygodnością Kościoła. Doświadczenie Boga w kontekście ubóstwa i niesprawiedliwości współczesnego świata sprawia, że opcja na rzecz ubogich może pełnić rolę znaku wiarygodności Kościoła i chrześcijaństwa.
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