Pope Francis, Populism, and the Agony of Latin America
Posted by PDH on May 24, 2016, 5:38 pm
Pope Francis, Populism, and the Agony of Latin America May 22, 2016 As populist regimes implode across Latin America, it’s unclear that the Catholic Church in the age of Francis is well-equipped to cope with whatever comes next. Dr. Samuel Gregg http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/4797/pope_francis_populism_and_the_agony_of_latin_america.aspx Extracts: Venezuela isn’t the only Latin American country to embrace populist politics over the last decade. Other notable examples include Ecuador, Bolivia, and Pope Francis’ own Argentina. And the results have been the same: economic destruction, deep political and social fractures, and a distinctly authoritarian style of government.
Given these facts, many have wondered why, of all the Latin American heads of states who could have attended the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences recent conference to mark the 25th anniversary of Saint John Paul II’s encyclical Centesimus Annus, the only two present were left-wing populists: Ecuador’s Rafael Correa and Bolivia’s Evo Morales. Are we to believe that not a single other serving Latin American head of state was able and willing to attend?
Since Pope Francis often states that realities are more important than ideas, let’s recall some basic realities about presidents Correa and Morales. Both are professed admirers of Chávez and committed to what Correa calls “socialism of the 21st century” or what Morales describes as “communitarian socialism.”
The fact, however, that Correa and Morales were invited to speak at a conference at the Holy See reflects the Church’s ambiguous relationship with left-populist movements and governments in recent years. The Venezuelan bishops’ willingness, for instance, to name and shame a populist regime so directly for its destructive policies is the exception rather than the rule.
During his years as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis was censorious, sometimes vividly, of aspects of the populist presidencies of Néstor and Cristina Kirchner. Yet in July 2015, the pope appeared with Morales before the “Second World Meeting of Popular Movements” and delivered a speech which had more than a populist edge to it. Indeed, in the numerous addresses, press conferences, and interviews given by Francis since becoming pope, it’s hard to find any clear criticism of left-populist policies that comes close to matching his impassioned denouncements of market economies.
So why are some Latin American Catholics apparently reticent to criticize political movements that have brought such misery to the region? Part of it, I suspect, comes from a healthy desire to ensure that the Church doesn’t get entangled in daily politics. Fair enough. But it may also owe something to particular intellectual currents that have marked Latin American Catholicism in recent decades. Prominent among these has a focus upon el pueblo—“the people”—that has permeated much of Catholic Latin America since the late-1960s.
Opportunity in the darkness? The good news for Latin America is that populist movements and governments are on the wane. Late last year, the main Perónist candidate for the Argentine presidency was defeated in national elections. In February this year, Evo Morales lost a referendum that would have permitted him to seek a fourth term. In Venezuela, the opposition now controls the National Assembly and is trying to force a deeply-unpopular Maduro into a recall election.
The sad irony is that as populist movements and governments falter in Latin America, they’re on the march throughout the rest of the world. Given their recent experiences, Catholics throughout Latin America have a unique opportunity to help the universal Church respond to a phenomenon that represents a significant threat to nations which aspire to be free and just. In light, however, of its recent past and some of its on-going preoccupations, Latin American Catholicism’s ability to do so is presently, at best, uncertain.
Perhaps the reluctance to challenge and the popularity of "populist" left wing governments is in part due to the alternative political system in Latin America which seems to often be a US backed right wing Government that is "coincidentally" (cough cough) very helpful to US business interests resulting in a few getting very rich and not much "trickling down" to the masses?
--Previous Message-- : Pope Francis, Populism, and the Agony of : Latin America : May 22, 2016 : As populist regimes implode across Latin : America, it’s unclear that the Catholic : Church in the age of Francis is : well-equipped to cope with whatever comes : next. : Dr. Samuel Gregg : : http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/4797/pope_francis_populism_and_the_agony_of_latin_america.aspx : Extracts: : Venezuela isn’t the only Latin American : country to embrace populist politics over : the last decade. Other notable examples : include Ecuador, Bolivia, and Pope Francis’ : own Argentina. And the results have been the : same: economic destruction, deep political : and social fractures, and a distinctly : authoritarian style of government. : : Given these facts, many have wondered why, : of all the Latin American heads of states : who could have attended the Pontifical : Academy of Social Sciences recent conference : to mark the 25th anniversary of Saint John : Paul II’s encyclical Centesimus Annus , the : only two present were left-wing populists: : Ecuador’s Rafael Correa and Bolivia’s Evo : Morales. Are we to believe that not a single : other serving Latin American head of state : was able and willing to attend? : : Since Pope Francis often states that : realities are more important than ideas, : let’s recall some basic realities about : presidents Correa and Morales. Both are : professed admirers of Chávez and committed : to what Correa calls “socialism of the 21st : century” or what Morales describes as : “communitarian socialism.” : : The fact, however, that Correa and Morales : were invited to speak at a conference at the : Holy See reflects the Church’s ambiguous : relationship with left-populist movements : and governments in recent years. The : Venezuelan bishops’ willingness, for : instance, to name and shame a populist : regime so directly for its destructive : policies is the exception rather than the : rule. : : During his years as Archbishop of Buenos : Aires, Pope Francis was censorious, : sometimes vividly, of aspects of the : populist presidencies of Néstor and Cristina : Kirchner. Yet in July 2015, the pope : appeared with Morales before the “Second : World Meeting of Popular Movements” and : delivered a speech which had more than a : populist edge to it. Indeed, in the numerous : addresses, press conferences, and interviews : given by Francis since becoming pope, it’s : hard to find any clear criticism of : left-populist policies that comes close to : matching his impassioned denouncements of : market economies. : : So why are some Latin American Catholics : apparently reticent to criticize political : movements that have brought such misery to : the region? Part of it, I suspect, comes : from a healthy desire to ensure that the : Church doesn’t get entangled in daily : politics. Fair enough. But it may also owe : something to particular intellectual : currents that have marked Latin American : Catholicism in recent decades. Prominent : among these has a focus upon el pueblo—“the : people”—that has permeated much of Catholic : Latin America since the late-1960s. : : Opportunity in the darkness? : The good news for Latin America is that : populist movements and governments are on : the wane. Late last year, the main Perónist : candidate for the Argentine presidency was : defeated in national elections. In February : this year, Evo Morales lost a referendum : that would have permitted him to seek a : fourth term. In Venezuela, the opposition : now controls the National Assembly and is : trying to force a deeply-unpopular Maduro : into a recall election. : : The sad irony is that as populist movements : and governments falter in Latin America, : they’re on the march throughout the rest of : the world. Given their recent experiences, : Catholics throughout Latin America have a : unique opportunity to help the universal : Church respond to a phenomenon that : represents a significant threat to nations : which aspire to be free and just. In light, : however, of its recent past and some of its : on-going preoccupations, Latin American : Catholicism’s ability to do so is presently, : at best, uncertain. : :