From Recife to Medellin: Historical and pastoral aspects

Abstract

There are two ways to do history. The first is ignoring the past, as if this would not contribute in anything to the present moment. The second way is to revise - from a historical distance – former documents and events so that the understanding of the past helps us to better understand the present time. The article is written in this spirit. It looks back to 1968, a year of great tensions and opinion divisions in the Church of Brazil. More especifically the article reflects on the "Comblin-Affiar" by referring to the leaked document "Notes on the base document for to II General Conference of the Latin-American Bishopric". The latter was  requested by D. Helder Câmara to José Comblin and the ITER-team as a means of preparation of the Mendellin-Conference. It is argued that the episode reveals the then two opposite parties within the Brazilian Church in Brazil in the period in question as well as the consequences of their antagonistic positions.