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Nicaragua's Other Revolution: Religious Faith and Political Struggle

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As our present Pope in his Apostolic Exhortation on the Sacramentum Caritatis indicates a political compulsion driven by the Eucharist to alter unjust economic structures, we do well to recall through this reflection on Religious Faith and Political Struggle an earlier generation's religious and political victories and challenges.

As we witness the re-election of Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega, his current declaration of a national state of chaos due to hurriaces and other natural disasters, and his recent reunion in Managua at the peace and cooperation conference with re-elected Costa Rican President Arias and still Cardinal Obando y Brava. let us refresh our memories with this profound and essential book.

THe first section of this book reviews therefore the history of Religion and Modern Democratic Revolutions, the antecedents of Nicaragua, the religious roots of North American Politics (an intriguing and relevant and alive field in itself), and political development throughout the Aamericas. Part Two handles Traditional and prophetic Churches, tradition and development in Christian Churches, the response to the Medeillin conference of Latin American Bishops and their recognition of the Gospel's the preferential option for the poor, and the role of religious renewal in popular mobilization. The final section discusses religion as a center of revolutionary struggle, the role of the Church in a revolutionary struggle, the Churches in the contra war, and finally revolution, religion and the Reagan Doctrine.

In light therefore of the conclusions of the Pope's recent Apostolic Exhortation Sacrament of Charity we do well to review the history of Religion in political struggle, as His Holiness calls us to alter unjust structures which leave most of the world living and dying in inequality, insufferable poverty, without peace, justice and dignity.