May 11, 2000

GUSTAVO GUTIÉRREZ NAMED SMU HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT

DALLAS (SMU) — Gustavo Gutiérrez, Peruvian priest and father of the liberation theology movement, will receive an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Southern Methodist University during its 85th annual commencement ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 20, in Moody Coliseum.

The university will host two symposiums in honor of Gutiérrez. Both are free and open to the public.

A research symposium featuring Gustavo Gutiérrez titled "Where Will the Poor Sleep in the 21st Century?" will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18, in Perkins Chapel, 6001 Bishop Blvd. Father Gutiérrez will respond to papers presented by four leading theologians in liberation theology from Latino, Black, Asian and Euro-American perspectives. Panelists at this symposium include Roberto S. Goizueta of Boston College; Dwight N. Hopkins of the University of Chicago; Kwok Pul Lan of the Episcopal Divinity School and Joerg Rieger of Perkins School of Theology.

"The Power of the Poor: A Symposium on the Life and Work of Gustavo Gutiérrez" will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 19, in Perkins Chapel. Panelists from the research symposium will comment on the impact of Gutiérrez’ life and work. After the honorary degree symposium, Perkins School of Theology Dean Robin Lovin will host a reception for Gutiérrez in the Bridwell Library, 6005 Bishop Blvd.

A Catholic priest, Gustavo Gutiérrez is known as the father of liberation theology, one of the most influential movements in contemporary theology. His work, Teologîa de la Liberacion: Prospectivos (A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics and Salvation, 1971), remapped contemporary understanding of the crucial roles that institutional churches can and should play in resisting oppression of the poor.

Born in Lima, Peru, in 1928, Gutiérrez grew up among the poor. After studying in both Rome and France, he returned to Peru to teach at the Catholic University of Lima but chose to live in the slums of the city rather than the more comfortable neighborhood surrounding the university.

Gutiérrez, who lectures in theology and social sciences at the Catholic University of Lima, Peru, defines voluntary Christian poverty as a loving act of solidarity with the poor and with those who suffer injustice. He describes it as "an authentic imitation of Christ . . .taking on the sinful human condition to liberate humankind from sin and all its consequences." He says breaking away from social class to accept voluntary poverty helps the poor and exploited to recognize their plight and seek liberation from it.

Gutiérrez drew international attention to the plight of the poor in Latin America when he challenged his church to work for liberation and justice by identifying and changing the social, political and economic structures that perpetuated oppression, rather than just following traditional acts of charity.

Gutiérrez’ work has made a profound impact on the understanding of the interconnections between freedom and religious beliefs and has provided a firm intellectual grounding for modern "liberation" movements.

Other honorary degree recipients include civic activist Ernesto Cortés Jr., Doctor of Laws; chemist, educator and University of Texas President Larry Faulkner, Doctor of Science; and Dallas philanthropist and civic leader Nancy Lee Blackburn Hamon, Doctor of Arts.

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Click here to read about all the SMU 2000 Honorary Degree Recipients

Click here to read about Commencement 2000

Click here to read more about Ernesto Cortés Jr.

Click here to read more about Larry Faulkner

Click here to read more about Nancy Lee Blackburn Hamon