The Liberation of Puerto Rico Chapter 3- The Case for Independence (Continued)

Boff makes the comparison between the socio-political situation in Jesus's day and the situation that gave rise to Liberation Theology in Latin America.  The main features that Boff mentions are a general situation of dependence, socio-economic oppression, and religious oppression (Boff in Gibellini, pp. 103-105).  He points out that in the context in which Jesus was ministering, He spoke about the reign of God not merely as something of the future, but as something present in the very midst of the audience to which He spoke (Boff in Gibellini, p. 107). In identifying certain oppressed groups in the Jewish society of that time (the impure, non-Jews, women, simple people, prostitutes, publicans, etc.),  Boff points out that Jesus had ties of solidarity with these same groups, and in fact, went so far as to state that the reign of God belonged to them (Boff in Gibellini, p.111).  In the remainder of the article, Boff describes the situation of Latin America as one of underdevelopment as compared to that of the affluent northern hemisphere.  He says that this situation is the by-product of a socio-economic system that favors a small minority with wealth, while keeping the vast majority of humanity in a state of dependence on the margins of societal life.  The majority, says Boff, are thus prevented from moving towards freedom, progress, and self-sustenance.  He believes that as long as the people of Latin America follow a purely developmental approach, that they will never be able to bridge the gap that separates the current centers of power from those on the periphery.  Boff contends that Latin Americans must look in another direction for the solution to the problem.  He states that the people of Latin America should break the ties of dependency and create new values that will allow them to structure a new form of social life for human beings.  They must, he says, stop the exploitation of some people by others, and get all people to bear their fair share of the social burden (Boff in Gibellini, p. 127).

In placing the issue of the independence of Puerto Rico within the framework of Boff's article, we see once again that the idea of "oppression" is directly connected with the state of domination and underdevelopment in which Latin America is situated.  When the situation of Puerto Rico is compared with the situation of Palestine, it is clear that Puerto Rico has been and continues to be in a state of oppression. Palestine was a colony of the Roman Empire.  Puerto Rico is a colony of U.S.A. imperialism.  The Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Graeco-Macedonian, and Roman Empires held Palestine in captivity. At the present time, Puerto Rico is held captive by the political and economic interests of the U.S.A

Boff's article can lead to the following question: What is the task of the Church in view of the situation in Puerto Rico? Boff points to the two tasks which he believes are of utmost importance.  The first task is to denounce and unmask the vaunted progress of modern times.  This progress, as well as the technology that permitted it, is indecent because it requires high human cost.  Besides operating in an ecologically irresponsible way, it generates a type of of living that is anemic, egotistical, and violent (Boff in Gibellini, p. 127).  From what Boff is saying, we can conclude that Liberation Theology calls us to denounce the notion that Puerto Rico's progress depends on the continuation of ties with the U.S.A.  The people of Puerto Rico must find a way to free themselves from a set of beliefs that only serve to maintain their uncritical support of the present arrangement.  In breaking with these beliefs, they must also create new values that will allow them to structure a new form of social life for the people of Puerto Rico.

The next task is to proclaim and anticipate a whole new meaning for human society and a whole new way of using the rich set of instruments provided by science and technology.  Instead of being used to generate some people's dominion over others, the must be used to resolve the age-old problems of hunger, illness, poverty, and discrimination.  The praxis of Jesus Himself is exemplary in this regard (Boff in Gibellini, p. 127).  While some of the social ills that Boff describes may not exist with the same intensity in Puerto Rico that they do in other areas of Latin America, I think that it is clear that we are called to work for the construction of a Puerto Rican society in which these ills can be minimized or totally eradicated.  In a politically and economically liberated Puerto Rico, we may very well see the beginning of an effort in Latin America to use scientific and technological instruments to eradicate the problems of poverty, hunger, and other ills that keep humanity in a state of oppression.  Puerto Rico may very well be the example of what a liberated Latin America would look like in the future.  This would be possible if the people of Puerto Rico take (nationalize) of those instruments that can generate a better quality of life.

I believe that I have made a valid case for the liberation of Puerto Rico in a theological framework.  The Scriptures that I have quoted and utilized are open to a variety of interpretations.  Nevertheless, they clearly indicate that colonialism was never intended by the Creator to play a part in human relations.  Liberation Theology, establishes, I believe, the basic foundation on which to continue advocating for the independence of Puerto Rico. I am sure all Liberation theologians would agree that there is a foundation in Liberation Theology to make a case for independence.

                                                             Summary

Now that I have stated my case for the independence of Puerto Rico, I would like to conclude this dissertation by stating my position in regard to the professional practice of ministry and this issue. The Church is called by God to participate in that process by which God is transforming human history.  The leaders of the Church have the primary responsibility for enabling the Church to carry out its mission in the world. As professional ministers, we cannot afford to be idle and neglect this great responsibility.  The leaders of the Church are the ones who have been entrusted  to lead the Church in direction it is supposed to be moving in.

We might ask ourselves: "What particular task is God calling us to today?"  I respond to that question as a Minister of the Gospel, and as member of the Puerto Rican community.  God is calling the Church to, among other things, to participate in the struggle of the Puerto Rican people for emancipation and sovereignty.  We can choose between responding to this call or ignoring it.  I hope that the reader of this thesis will receive the necessary enthusiasm that will motivate her/him to respond the call.

To God be the glory!

Juan A. Ayala-Carmona

August 29, 2016