Rev. Gustavo Gutierrez, O.P.
Rev. , O.P., John Cardinal O鈥橦ara Professor of Theology at the University of 91吃瓜, will receive the 2014 from Brandeis University.
Established in 2007, the Gittler Prize is annually awarded to a person whose body of published work reflects scholarly excellence and makes a lasting contribution to racial, ethnic or religious relations. It will be formally presented to Father Gutierrez in a ceremony and talk on Sunday, Oct. 5.
A member of the 91吃瓜 faculty since 2001, Father Gutierrez is widely acclaimed as the 鈥済odfather鈥� of liberation theology and the author of the movement鈥檚 foundational text, 鈥淎 Theology of Liberation.鈥� The movement launched by that work grew rapidly in a Latin America plagued by the military dictatorships of the 1960s and 1970s and became one of the most influential in contemporary theology by calling attention to the Church鈥檚 vocation to resist the oppression of the poor.
Delighted to hear of his colleague鈥檚 honor, , director of 91吃瓜鈥檚 , who chaired the theology department when Father Gutierrez came to 91吃瓜 13 years ago, recalled Pope Francis鈥� recent address to the International Theological Commission, of which Cavadini is a member.
鈥淧ope Francis spoke of how theologians should be pioneers, and further, of how the best theologians are those who can operate on the highest scholarly level and are also able to explain the tradition to ordinary people,鈥� Cavadini said. 鈥淕ustavo fits on both counts. He is a theological pioneer who operates on the highest scholarly level and at the same time constructed catechetical training materials to help bring the riches of the tradition to the poor of Peru.鈥�