Sr Angela Carroll rsj, Jorge Jorquera and Michael Elphick were our presenters for the first ACI webinar of 2025.
Born in Peru in 1928, Fr Gustavo died on 22 October 2024 at the age of 96.
His classic book, A Theology of Liberation, made a huge impact upon its publication in 1971 and continues to do so today.
Below we present the video as well as a summary of the discussion generated by Zoom AI.
Speakers
Sr Angela Carroll rsj
Originally from Brisbane, Angela Carroll is a Sister of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart who joined the Congregation in 1959 after being in the YCS at secondary school for two years.
A copy of The Theology of Liberation which she received in 1975 changed her life in a wonderful way.
Joining the Josephite mission in Lima in1984, she saw and heard P Gustavo Gutierrez speak many times during the popular summer theology courses.
In Peru, she developed a catechetics program for families that was translated into the local Quechua language. The program works on developing the relationship between husband and wife, as well as between parents and children. It also empowers women to have a voice at home when they are threatened by machismo and the effect of alcohol.
In her work, Sr Angela also helped establish a flourishing craft micro-business in a village near Cusco called Picumarca.
Jorge Jorquera
Jorge Jorquera arrived in Australia with his family over 40 years ago from Chile.
An activist since his student days, he was elected secretary of the University of Queensland Student Union and coordinator of the National Free Education Coalition, which led the national campaign against the reintroduction of university fees.
During the 1990s he helped establish one of the first branches of the Green Party in New South Wales.
Now living in Footscray in Melbourne’s west, he has been involved in community advocacy and development, and social and environmental justice campaigning for over four decades. Currently he also serves as a councillor for the City of Maribyrnong.
Characterising himself as “a socialist, a unionist, an anti-racist and an advocate for migrant communities, working class families and young people,” Jorge is also the coordinator of the Borderlands Cooperative in Footscray.
Michael Elphick
Michael Elphick has had a career long interest in human rights, theology, and religious education. He spent the first half of his career as a high school teacher and administrator before joining Edmund Rice Centre as a community educator where he took responsibility for the Centre’s overseas immersion program.
In this role Michael led numerous study visits to India and South-East Asia, and participated in human rights delegations to Africa, Palestine, and Central America.
Michael later taught as an adjunct lecturer in the School of Religious Education at
Notre Dame University, Fremantle and Sydney as well as at Arcadia University
Philadelphia (USA) in their Sydney program.
Michael completed two Boston College Summer School programs under Gustavo
Gutiérrez in 1997 and 2006, the experience continues to influence his political and
theological outlook.
He now works in safeguarding and professional standards as the Professional
Standards Officer for the Missionary Society of St. Columban (Oceania) and the Safeguarding Support Officer for the Scalabrinian Province of St Frances Xavier Cabrini Province.
AI summary of the webinar
This is a lightly-edited summary of the webinar generated by Zoom AI.
The main focus of the meeting was to honour the memory and reflect on the legacy of the late Gustavo Gutierrez, a Dominican priest and pioneer of liberation theology.
Angela Carroll shared her experiences and reflections on Gustavo Gutierrez’s teachings and their impact on her work in Peru. She recounted her first encounter with Gustavo’s work in 1975, and how it influenced her as she worked with the poor in Lima. Angela also shared her experiences with the Colombian Sisters, the Theology of Liberation, and Pope John Paul II’s visit to Peru.
She highlighted the importance of the “family catechesis” program, which helped to empower women and children in the community. Angela also mentioned her involvement in the Children’s Club, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in December. She concluded by expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to share her experiences and reflections.
Webinar host Paul Lentern then invited Jorge Jorquera to reflect on Gustavo’s work from a regional perspective, considering his family background and cultural connections. Jorge shared his personal journey, starting with the 1973 Chilean coup, which led him to explore the work of Gustavo Gutierrez and liberation theology.
He mentioned key figures including Camillo Torres, Ernesto Cardenal, and Padre Rafael Maroto, who influenced his understanding of taking sides and the importance of justice. Jorge concluded by quoting Gustavo Gutierrez, emphasising the need for Christians to take part in conflicts to achieve justice and peace.
Finally, Michael Elphick shared his thoughts on Gustavo’s work and its relevance today.
Michael shared his personal journey and experiences that shaped his perspective on theology and social justice. He discussed his Irish heritage and how it influenced his interest in social issues, particularly in the context of the 1973 story that deeply impacted him.
Michael’s travels to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other countries exposed him to poverty and human rights violations, leading him to question his Catholicism and seek a more inclusive and contextual understanding of the gospel.
He found liberation theology, particularly through Gustavo Gutierrez, to be a framework that allowed him to apply the gospel to the realities he encountered.
Michael also shared his encounters with other liberation theologians, such as Tissa Balasuriya and Aloysius Prius, who further deepened his understanding of the need for contextual theology. He emphasised the importance of doing theology close to the people it serves, rather than from a comfortable distance.
Michael discussed the concept of Liberation Theology, emphasising its importance in identifying and standing in solidarity with marginalised groups. He used the example of the Royal Commission into clerical abuse as a work of the Holy Spirit, highlighting its role in raising awareness about the abuse of children. Michael also critiqued the Eurocentric and heteronormative images commonly used in religious settings, suggesting a need for more inclusive representations.
He also shared clips from the film “Motorcycle Diaries” to capture the spirit of Gustavo’s work.
Discussion
Mel expressed a strong reaction to the images of sisters with pious pictures on their walls, questioning the appropriateness of such representations. Michael defended his critique, arguing that it was a valid question to ask about the absence of women in traditional religious imagery.
Greg asked the panelists to elaborate on the term “confrontation” in the context of liberation theology. Angela responded that she didn’t see confrontation promoted in Gustavo’s work, but rather reflection and prayer. Jorge agreed that confrontation isn’t a choice, but rather a decision to take sides in a conflict. Michael added that while confrontation is necessary, it should not be advanced through violence. Robert concluded by emphasising the importance of articulating a desire for liberation with respect for democratic structures to avoid oppressive outcomes.
Paul led a discussion on the impact of art and poetry in relation to theology, particularly in the context of liberation theology. Tony raised a question about the introduction of art and poetry to new audiences, and Michael responded by sharing his practice of using ancient icons instead of Europeanised imageries.
Angela then discussed the catechetical evangelisation method, which originated in Chile and led to the formation of basic Christian communities. The method involved people getting to know each other, dialoguing, and sharing, with topics such as parents not angering their children.
