The Missing Third Alternative

Something was missing in most journalistic accounts of Pope John Paul II’s voyage to Latin America from January 26 to February 5. Liberation theology, these accounts usually said, is “political action to correct injustices.” What on earth can be debatable about that? As it often must, however, the press tended to deal with two antagonists: “liberation theologians” and “conservatives.” And so missed the point.

As God is Triune, so (you will find) are most created realities, made in His image. It should be a rule for commentators to speak in threes. So it is in Latin America. The missing third term in the press accounts is the liberal alternative to both socialism and traditionalism—what in Latin America is called liberalismo. Liberalism means a commitment in peace and civility to democracy, to capitalism, and to pluralism. Liberals abhor the statism both of traditionalists and of socialists.

About the Author

Michael Novak

Michael Novak was a Catholic philosopher, journalist, novelist, and diplomat.

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Something was missing in most journalistic accounts of Pope John Paul II’s voyage to Latin America from January 26 to February 5. Liberation theology, these accounts usually said, is “political action to correct injustices.” What on earth can be debatable about that? As it often must, however, the press tended to deal with two antagonists: “liberation theologians” and “conservatives.” And so missed the point.

As God is Triune, so (you will find) are most created realities, made in His image. It should be a rule for commentators to speak in threes. So it is in Latin America. The missing third term in the press accounts is the liberal alternative to both socialism and traditionalism—what in Latin America is called liberalismo. Liberalism means a commitment in peace and civility to democracy, to capitalism, and to pluralism. Liberals abhor the statism both of traditionalists and of socialists.