Catequese em Puebla: teologias em conflito

Abstract

Since Medellin, catechesis has continued to affirm absolute unity between human history and the history of salvation, once it understood that God reveals himself through the concrete human situation. In Puebla, however, this conviction was shaken. In the chapter reserved for catechesis, a conflict of theologies subliminally appears, marked by the presence of some antithetical parallels, such as the human situation and revealed doctrine; situation catechesis and doctrinal catechesis, mere memorizing and absence of memory. Underlying the nostalgia of a certain catechesis that does not neglect the doctrine in favor of Christian praxis, a theological tension is hidden. No doubt, not all the whole episcopate in Puebla was convinced that the most human ways are exactly the most divine ones; not everyone shared the claim that God is manifested in human history and takes sides with the impoverished and suffering people. Through the study of the Catechesis Document, item 3 of chapter 3 of the Puebla Conclusions, this article aims to show the coexistence of two theologies at the 1979 Latin American Episcopal Conference. The first one was more Christo derivative, in the light of Medellin, that favors the People of God ecclesiology, valuing every baptized person and their daily reality; the other one was more Theo derivative, which makes possible the ecclesiology "Body of Christ”, which comprehends the Church as a perfect society, hierarchically organized, independent of the ways of humanity.