The Pope in Latin America

Taken from BBC "The people of Latin America and the Caribbean have the right to ... conditions that are human, free from the threat of hunger and from every form of violence," the Pope said.

Taken from Catholic News Agency: "Both capitalism and Marxism promised to point out the path for the creation of just structures, and they declared that these, once established, would function by themselves."

"And this ideological promise,” he added, “has been proved false. The facts have clearly demonstrated it. The Marxist system, where it found its way into government, not only left a sad heritage of economic and ecological destruction, but also a painful destruction of the human spirit. And we can also see the same thing happening in the West, where the distance between rich and poor is growing constantly, and giving rise to a worrying degradation of personal dignity through drugs, alcohol and deceptive illusions of happiness."

"This political task is not the immediate competence of the Church," the Pontiff explained. "Respect for a healthy secularity — including the pluralism of political opinions — is essential in the authentic Christian tradition."

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CELAM in Brasil excluded Liberation Theologians. They held their own event close to CELAM as a response. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=9169

If the Pope is about pluralism, why is there censorship of Liberation Theologists via non-invites to CELAM? The likely Church response would be that there is no room for ideologies that fall outside of faith and can be harmful, such as those that try to create a 'utopia' on Earth. However, if the Church is truly upholding its values, for example, ensuring human dignity, then why did controversial bishops such as Opus Dei's Cipriani, who backed the autocrat Fujimori for some time and the Sodalicio's Eguren, who suppresses those who protest unjust conditions in the Tambogrande mines of Peru, attend CELAM? This sort of censorship makes little sense; it suppresses meaningful dialogue and brings further controversy and conflict within the Church. It also rewards some bishops with authority over others, whether 'meaningfully deserved' or not.


Another observation out of the CELAM visit: A martyred Liberation Theologian, murdered in a Church, is being discussed by the Pope as a man of faith first and an agent of social change second. If he were alive, he would be lumped in with other non-violent Liberation Theologists, such as Jon Sobrino and Gustavo Gutierrez, with the m-word introducing and following his name well into his likely natural and undramatic death. But, everyone loves a martyr.

Catholic News Agency: During his May 9 flight to Brazil the Pope also spoke about Archbishop Oscar Romero [see: Prominent Liberation Theologist], who was an outspoken voice for social change before he was gunned down by a right-wing "death squad" during a Mass at his cathedral in San Salvador. Commenting on a new book about the slain archbishop, the Pope said that the death of Archbishop Romero should not be seen simply as a political figure.

"He was killed during the consecration of the Eucharist," the Pope observed. "Therefore, his death is testimony of the faith.”

The Catholic Conservative Connection

An idea of an Opus Dei connection is rather far-fetched, innit? And no, I am not referring to the Da Vinci Code as I am sure the Catholic Church would love. They have developed a great press release to deal with the Da Vinci Code and the Opus Dei issue. I am going to take Opus Dei at face value for what they are: a very conservative movement within the church.

Here are some interesting observations of the Sodalits and Opus Dei connection.

First off, Milagros Peña's work tells the reader that the Sodalits and Opus Dei worked together (along with Benedict - then Cardinal Ratzinger) in order to remove liberation theology during the 80's.

Cardinal Luis Cipriani, the Archbishop of Lima is also Opus Dei. He's also incredibly political, having recently said during a spiritual procession of the people (not of political agendas!) that those who are in favour of the morning after pill and call it safe are 'liars and murderers' seen here and here in the press. He has consecrated Bishops Kay Martin Schmalhausen and Jose Antonio Erguren Anselmi of the Sodality of Christian Life, the only two Bishops of the S.C.V movement that exist. Jose Antonio Eguren Anselmi used to be the Auxilary Bishop of Lima with Cipriani until he moved to Piura.

It's not surprising to see that Bishop Eguren Anselmi succeeded control of the Archdiocese of Piura from Cipriani and that previous to both Cipriani and Anselmi, it was controlled by an Orders of Friars Minors (O.F.M.) Bishop. Also, it's interesting to see that Cipriani has succeeded and been succeeded by members of O.F.M., an organization that has been instrumental to Figari's life (see CLM Canada) and also closely connected to Sodalits and Opus Dei in Denver.

Recently, in December, the Sodalits celebrated their Assembly and anniversary in Lima with Cipriani presiding over the final mass, in which he blessed their labour. Ratzinger (Pope Benedict) also blessed the organization and commended them for their great work.

Then there's the connection of the O.F.M. Archbishop Chaput of Denver, who has welcomed in conservative groups Opus Dei and the Sodality Family into his community. His appointed auxilary Bishop was Opus Dei, until that Bishop was promoted to San Antonio, Texas.


Lastly, when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission authors were outspoken about oppressive issues in the Church, it was Opus Dei and the Sodalits who got together to protest them.


Please ask yourself: why do people in these conservative organizations tend to find each other and work together? Please keep in mind that these are only a few examples of their relationships together that are accessible online. They aren't to show any sort of scandalous behaviour, but are merely here to demonstrate that there have been documented links between each other that are significant. The fact that these links span about 30 years should also be taken into consideration that these relationships have been consistent, from the creation of the Sodalits to the present.

If the Sodalits aren't "so conservative", why are they so close to the Opus Dei and to other conservatives? It's absolutely ridiculous to deny that the Sodalits are not a very conservative wing of the church and it is highly questionable from a their vested interest standpoint to actually pursue social justice activities - those which acknowledge injustices and work to ensure that they know longer continue - considering their strong conservative connections within the church and the Vatican.

These interests haven't taken responsibility for the repression they have caused; in fact, as seen in the speeches and words of Figari and Rafael Aguedas (both experienced on both SEA trips to Peru), they praise some of the church's unjust activities. By never recognizing the root of the social problem and developing "social justice" programs based on ideas that fail to recognize these deep issues means that they can offer is charity to the people in the form of infrastructure, social services and education. They can't offer them the same opportunities as them, nor the same privileges that they have. Since the Sodalits have stamped their names in the communities they give to means that the people are dependent on their resources to survive. The people aren't given the ability to make their own decisions and take care of themselves, at least not without the hands of Sodalits or people that are brought into the community. Otherwise they don't "need" any of them.

The Christian Life Movement USA

I guess this gives some context of how the Sodalit Family, particularly the Christian Life Movement [CLM] is related to North American Politics, as it's more difficult for most Canadians (and Americans) to relate to Latin American politics.

It appears that Denver is the capital of Catholic conservatism in the USA.

Taken from CLM Canada (http://www.clmcanada.org/page2.html):

"When he was 7 years old, he received the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Communion, and Confirmation. Presiding over the Liturgy was Archbishop Juan Landázuri, O.F.M., who would later have an important role in the approval of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, as well as in other religious societies Luis Fernando established."

The CLM USA stronghold is within the city of Denver, whose diocese is run by O.F.M. Archbishop Chaput.



Chaput's political motivations during the 2004 election

"Archbishop Chaput has discussed Catholic priorities in the election in 14 of his 28 columns in the free diocesan newspaper this year. His archdiocese has organized voter registration drives in more than 40 of the largest parishes in the state and sent voter guides to churches around the state. Many have committees to help turn out voters and are distributing applications for absentee ballots.

In an interview in his residence here, Archbishop Chaput said a vote for a candidate like Mr. Kerry who supports abortion rights or embryonic stem cell research would be a sin that must be confessed before receiving Communion."



Support for CLM
"Now present throughout the world [the CLM], both Archbishop Francis Stafford and Archbishop Charles Chaput welcomed the group to the U.S. by way of the Archdiocese of Denver. The consecrated male community was formally established in 2003."


Here is an interesting piece written on the Archdiocese of Denver written by a Catholic newsgroup from Australia


The article acknowledges the relationship of Denver's former Archbishop, now Cardinal Francis Stafford in the Vatican. It is no coincidence that the Sodalit Family can grow in Denver, an area with such support of the Vatican. It is also no coincidence that there are very strong connections between Pope Benedict and the Sodalit Family and strong connections between the Pope and these Archdiocese in Denver. An Opus Dei cleric was appointed as the Auxilary Bishop in Denver as well.

"In Denver, Archbishop Chaput took over an archdiocese that had been patiently refashioned during the ten-year tenure of J. Francis Stafford, a theologian and intellectual who is now a cardinal and head of the Pontifical Council for the Laity in Rome. It was then-Archbishop Stafford, observers say, who first identified Denver as an "emerging city" and set about building a local Church to match its energy and dynamism. He brought in top lay advisers, encouraged new religious orders and movements to relocate there, built close ties with Latin American Church leaders, and made the Church a respected voice on issues ranging from urban sprawl and "hyperdevelopment" to evangelisation and the Internet...

Some critics fault Archbishop Chaput for speaking with what they say is a muted voice on social issues. "There is no deep commitment to the poor - the priority now is with these very conservative theological efforts," complains Loreto Sister Anna Koop, who has run a Catholic Worker house for Denver's needy and homeless for nearly 25 years. Sister Koop complains that Archbishop Chaput has done little to protest against gentrification and development efforts in Denver or the skyrocketing cost of living, all of which have displaced hundreds of poor families and made housing unaffordable except for the very wealthy. The Archdiocese's "only legislative interest is in pro-life and anti-gay and lesbian things," she says....

As he looks forward himself, Archbishop Chaput sees the face of his Archdiocese rapidly becoming Hispanic. The ordination in March of Auxiliary Bishop José Gomez, a 49-year-old Mexican priest of Opus Dei, marked another turning point in the Archdiocese's understanding of itself, Archbishop Chaput says: "We will begin to see ourselves as a diocese that is inherently bilingual, inherently multicultural."



An essay written by Chaput

"I write a lot of letters every day because a lot of people write to me, and my parents always taught me that ignoring anyone is bad manners. So I always write back, which means I have a lot of interesting pen pals, some happy, some angry and a few who are a little strange. One of the angry ones emailed me a few weeks ago to complain that the Archdiocese of Denver was becoming a magnet for every flaky, right wing new group in the Church. And I immediately thought: Thank you for a great way to begin my talk on St. Francis.

It's true that God has raised up many new charisms and communities in the Church over the last 60 years, and especially since Vatican II. It's true that all of them have their special weaknesses along with their special strengths. And it's also true that the Archdiocese of Denver has tended to welcome them with an openness which they may not always find elsewhere. I think that's partly because of the vision of my predecessor, Cardinal Francis Stafford, and partly because of the conversion our own local Church has undergone since World Youth Day 1993.

But in each of these new charisms that has taken root in Colorado -- groups like the Community of the Beatitudes, the Neocatechumenal Way, the Christian Life Movement, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, the charismatic renewal, Opus Dei, Cursillo, the Marian Community of Reconciliation, Families of Nazareth, and most recently a wonderful apostolic society that began 30 years ago in Peru, the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae -- in each of these cases, their spirit is something very familiar to anyone who knows St. Francis.... "

Enjoy Takillakkta

Takillakkta is a group that is strongly associated with the Sodalite Family; there is no coincidence that the musicians are from Figari's organization.

Basically, they feature consecrated laymen (of largely European descent) that play zampoñas, guitars, quenas and other Andean and creole instruments.

Most english speakers probably do not have a clue as to what they're hearing and seeing.

Here is the page: TAKILLAKKTA


And here are the songs translated:

1492

When Christopher Columbus discovered this continent,
The history of evangelization began,
Blessed discoverer of the Americas,
The New World was waiting for Christ the Redeemer

Passing through (the ocean) by caravel, in the sea under the stars,
They arrived to our land (the Americas),
And left profound footprints,
In the history of the Americas by the evangelization

Spain was chosen to bring the gospel to the bronze-skinned men[sic]
That were yearning for God.

With saintliness and heroism by the missionaries,
The glorious guidance was forged by the Virgen del Pilar

Year 92 of the distant 15th century
Broke dawn on our horizon with the light of faith,
The day del Pilar, the beautiful 12th of October,
Jesus Christ arrived to us

Teaching and preaching with the word and by example,
Our Saints blossomed, evangelizing the indian[sic], the black, the creole and mestizo with the faith of our God

This is the inheritance that they left us,
That which forges our history,
Let us unite our strengths to continue the labour of Christ!

Latin American brother, with heart in hand, let us work together to bring reconciliation!


Evangelization

This is the glorious history of the heroic deed of evangelization of this continent, our Latin America.
History of valiant men, of heroic Saints, history of lights and shadows, history of our faith.

When Christopher Columbus discovered this continent,
From Spain they sent people to preach,
The evangelization has pages of glory,
The history reminds us of it and it's certain that it is as said (refering to the pages of glory?),
This evangelization has pages of glory,
In order to help remind us of the memory of the Saints being there

There is Saint Paul Claver and Saint Rosa of Lima,
That arrived in Latin America to bloom,
They were changed with the duty of Anthony of Montesinos,
And as well with Saint Toribio and the mulatto[sic] Saint Martin,
Defending until the end the dignity of the poor.

The annnouncement of faith in Latin America
Was a devine blessing that like right here I will tell you,
In its origin and in Christianity being preached,
Through catechisms, prayers, songs and orations,
With dances and processions and with singing of the divine

Indian, white and people of colour, they were converted since early times,
Thus, the American continent met our Lord

The messengers of peace, they fought for justice,
Bartolome de las Casas (Saint) and as well Saint Louis Beltran,
Defending the poor, the Indian and the indian dignity,
The message of God came to America to proclaim,
Defending the poor, the Indian and the indian dignity,
The life of Bishop Valdivieso was given to deliver

Let us remember the missions of the fathers that gave help,
That into the rainforest they arrived preaching the gospel,
and the faithful missionaries, the Francisican friars,
that for Christ they conquered from Lima to Chiloé,
It is almost unbelievable the poverty(shortage/penury) that existed.

Some Sources of Information

These are the following articles gathered about this organization thus far. Many articles need command of Spanish to understand what is being said.

It is a shame that so much is written in Spanish and that many English speakers do not have access to this information for their own interpretation. It's the same issue as those that live in the poor regions, who can't communicate with mission workers because they don't share the common tongue.



Catholic Totalitarianism in Peru (in Spanish)
"The Sodalit Movement is Nazi-Fascist, it is the Creole Opus Dei..."


A lady complains about the abduction of her child by the sodalites to the Peruvian Government (in Spanish)



Caretas - Los Once Mil Castos (in Spanish)
One family searches for their son who has been apparently brainwashed and kidnapped by the organization... The youth of the movement laugh at the idea of being brainwashed, manipulated; they say they've been evangelized...



Caretas - the Responses to Los Once Mil Castos (in Spanish)
A response from the spokesperson of the organization, threatening about legal action for defamation of the organization. Attached to his message is the son of a family who launched a complaint about the organization, who was apparently kidnapped. The son's message said his dad was threatening his life (spiritual/physical??) and he is fine and happy in Sao Paolo.



The Mysteries of the Sodalits (in Spanish)
Questionable practices of the organization and torturing to show God's love are discussed in this article.



Follow-up to The mysteries of the Sodalits (in Spanish) More threats by the organization. The writer tends to tread back on himself; mentions the goodness of the organization at the end and how they help the poor.



The Sodalits Infiltrate Arequipa [some more](in Spanish)
This is Peru indymedia, which definitely has their own alternative perspective. They state that fundamentalist sodalites try and take over more educational facilities in Arequipa, where youth attend, for the purpose of brain-washing them/manipulating their minds. This article is further vindication that the organization is controversial and involved in manipulative activities, which starkly different journalist sources claim as well.


Parents reject Catholic school to be kept in the hands of a religious sect (in Spanish)
One parent is worried that the fundamentalist organization will brainwash their kids and put them through humiliating and torturing tests to prove their faith. The group is considered an extreme right-winged group from the 60s.


A Discussion Board about Religious Cults and Sects that Discusses The Sodalit Movement (in Spanish)



Argentinians Concerned about the Sodalit Movement(in Spanish)



Peru indymedia wasn't too impressed with the right-wing church movements' protest (Opus Dei, the Sodalit family and other) of a book written by former participatants in the Truth and Reconciliation Comission about right-wing church groups
The Truth and Reconciliation Committee sought to explain the atrocities against campesinos during the 1980s and 1990s. There was a lot of terrorizing happening at this time, not just the Sendero Luminoso and the Tupac Amaru movement; three governments were implicated for human rights violations.


There are still other articles that weren't included in this list! The same themes surface each time.

Some academic literature:


Swatos, W.H. (ed.). 1995. Religion & democracy in Latin America. New Brunswick, N.J., U.S.A.: Transaction Publishers.

Peña, M. 1995. Theologies and Liberation in Peru: The Role of Ideas in Social Movements. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. 222 pp.