Original version

BBC World Service Australasia

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: Silenced by the Vatican

Documentaries

Leonardo blocks.jpg

29/01/2024 GMT

Silenced by the Vatican

BBC World Service - Witness History, Silenced by the Vatican

How Brazilian priest Leonardo Boff was punished for his writing on liberation theology

In the 1980s, Brazilian priest Leonardo Boff was punished for his writing on liberation theology. It was deemed "dangerous to the faith".

In September 1984, the Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff was summoned to Rome, facing accusations that his writing and teachings were "dangerous to the faith".

He is a leading proponent of liberation theology, which says the Church should push for social equality. Leonardo was called to appear before the Roman Catholic Church’s highest tribunal.

A year later, he was banned from writing, teaching or speaking publicly. Now in his late 80s and no longer a priest, he tells Mike Lanchin about that turbulent time.  

A CTVC production for BBC World Service.

(Photo: Leonardo Boff preaching outside a church to followers of Liberation Theology. Credit: Bernard Bisson/Sygma/Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

Silenced by the Vatican

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Australasia

About BBC World Service