Jon Sobrino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jon Sobrino
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Sobrino in 2013
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| Born | 27 December 1938 |
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Notable work
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| Institutions | Central American University | ||||
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Jon Sobrino (born 27 December 1938) is a Spanish Jesuit Catholic priest and theologian. He is well-known for his ideas on Latin American liberation theology. This is a way of thinking about faith that focuses on helping poor people.
In 2007, a part of the Vatican called the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith looked at his writings. They said some of his ideas were "erroneous or dangerous." This means they thought his ideas might not be correct or could cause problems for people who believe in the Catholic faith.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jon Sobrino was born on December 27, 1938, in Barcelona, Spain. His family was Basque. When he was 18, he joined the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. Jesuits are a group of Catholic priests and brothers.
In 1958, he moved to El Salvador. He later studied engineering at Saint Louis University in the United States. After that, he studied theology in Frankfurt, West Germany. He earned a special degree in theology there.
Teaching and Activism
After his studies, Sobrino went back to El Salvador. He taught at the University of Central America (UCA) in San Salvador. He even helped to start this university, which is run by the Jesuits.
On November 16, 1989, Sobrino was very lucky. He was away from El Salvador when a terrible event happened. Soldiers broke into the UCA and killed six other Jesuits, including Ignacio Ellacuría. They also killed their housekeeper and her daughter. These Jesuits were targeted because they spoke out for peace during the brutal El Salvador Civil War. This war caused about 75,000 deaths, mostly civilians.
Throughout his time as a professor, Sobrino has always spoken up for peace. In 2008, he joined protests against the training of military officers in torture methods. This training happened at the School of the Americas in the United States.
Important Books
Jon Sobrino has written many important books about theology. His main works include:
- Jesus the Liberator (published in 1991)
- Christ the Liberator (published in 1999)
Other notable books are:
- Christology at the Crossroads (1978)
- The True Church and the Poor (1984)
- Spirituality of Liberation (1990)
- The Principle of Mercy: Taking the Crucified People from the Cross (1994)
- No Salvation Outside the Poor
- Prophetic-Utopian Essays (2008)
Vatican Review of His Ideas
In March 2007, the Vatican reviewed Jon Sobrino's theological ideas. This review was done by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. They issued a "notification," which is a statement of critique and advice.
Why the Vatican Reviewed His Work
The Congregation said that Sobrino focused too much on Jesus Christ's human side. They felt he did not emphasize Jesus's divine side enough. They stated that his works had ideas that were "erroneous or dangerous." They believed these ideas could "cause harm to the faithful," meaning people who believe in the Church.
The Vatican explained that this review was to help "the people of God." They especially wanted to help "the simple and poorest members of the Church." They said people have a "right to know the truth... about Christ."
Specific Concerns
The Vatican's notification pointed out several areas of concern in Sobrino's writings:
- How he approached theological thinking.
- His views on Jesus Christ's divinity (being divine).
- His ideas about the Incarnation (God becoming human in Jesus).
- The connection between Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.
- Jesus's own self-awareness.
- The importance of Jesus's death for salvation.
A main point of disagreement was Sobrino's idea that the "Church of the poor" is the most important way to understand Christ. The Vatican believes that the traditional "apostolic faith" (the beliefs passed down through generations) is the true way to understand Christ and theology.
Outcome of the Review
Even though some of his teachings were called "false," the Vatican did not punish Sobrino. They did not stop him from teaching or giving lectures. However, a Vatican spokesperson suggested that his bishop or Jesuit leader might take action.
The Vatican stated that they had told Sobrino about their concerns. They gave him three months to respond before issuing the notification.
Support for Sobrino
Many theologians, including Peter Hünermann, were surprised by the Vatican's notification. Hünermann said it was a "shock" for all theologians. He felt that many respected Catholic and Protestant thinkers were being questioned along with Sobrino.
More than 100 Catholic theology professors supported Hünermann. They asked for changes in how the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith works. They felt it still acted like an "early modern board of censors."
Other theologians, like Bernard Sesboüé and José Ignacio González Faus, reviewed Sobrino's work. They did not find any errors in his teachings. It is not clear if the Vatican considered their findings.
See also
In Spanish: Jon Sobrino para niños
