Wanted: A Progressive Pope of Liberation Theology

Reference to Rappler's article:

"Tagle's words that struck the world"

I have high respects to then Pope Benedict XVI (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) not only because he was the 'Holy Father' but because of his intellect — in fact, he was the mind and philosopher before by the charismatic late John Paul II. His classic Jesus of Nazareth showcases both his elegance and sophisticaiton as a thinker — that is, simple in his Christ-centric perspective and his argument for "canonical exegesis" (time-place context and the unity of the Scripture) but methodologically rigorous in his analysis using what he calls the "historical-critical method". I could say he's on the same league as other top philosophers from Germany. 

I also highly respect Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a papabile, with all these "progressive" statements from his speeches. I wish that the Catholic Church promoted in their preachings and actions the sensibility of "liberation theology" with a sense of social justice and humanity and a true bastion of the poor, the victims, and the marginalized. Cardinal Ratzinger is a strong critic of modern-day capitalism, particularly agreeing with Marx on the idea of "alienation" in the logic of commodification, profit-maximization, and accumulation in capitalism. In my lectures before, I used to juxtapose Max Weber's "Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" with Pope Benedict XVI's "critique of capitalism". See slides 13-14 of my lecture here. However, as a Christ-centric philosopher of the church, Ratzinger also criticizes "liberation theology" because of the belief, among others, that the concerns of the spirit must take precedence over issues of materialism and that Christ came to earth not as a social liberator but as Christ, the Son of God himself.

I hope the next pope will be progressive and truly the best at this time here in our seemingly god-forsaken world! While some would want the Catholic Church abolished, it would not happen in the near future. Recall Marx in the context of the movement out of medievalism towards modernity in 19th century Germany:

" Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people. "

I think that one of the key attractions of human beings to religion is that religion — as compared with science and the like — has a theory of why and how to live. 

I believe that it's our task to reform our individual selves at the same time we push our institutions, structures, and leaders to reform. The church, just like many other social institutions, is an arena of and for struggles. It is very much 'political' (meaning, struggle over power and resources) internally and in relation with the larger society and the world. Our sense of life's meaning and purpose is too important to be left to the church, let alone the pope!