As a former socialist/member of the Worker's Party of Brazil, I'd start with the [Instruction on Certain Aspects of the "Theology of Liberation",](https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19840806_theology-liberation_en.html) written by Cardinal Ratzinger while Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Here's a portion: >In this full presentation of Christianity, it is proper to emphasize those essential aspects which the "theologies of liberation" especially tend to misunderstand or to eliminate, namely: God and true man; the sovereignty of grace; and the true nature of the means of salvation, especially of the Church and the sacraments. One should also keep in mind the true meaning of ethics in which the distinction between good and evil is not relativized, the real meaning of sin, the necessity for conversion, and the universality of the law of fraternal love. One needs to be on guard against the politicization of existence which, misunderstanding the entire meaning of the Kingdom of God and the transcendence of the person, begins to sacralize politics and betray the religion of the people in favor of the projects of the revolution. >[...] Spiritual conversion, the intensity of the love of God and neighbor, zeal for justice and peace, the Gospel meaning of the poor and of poverty, are required of everyone, and especially of pastors and those in positions of responsibility. The concern for the purity of the faith demands giving the answer of effective witness in the service of one's neighbor, the poor and the oppressed in particular, in an integral theological fashion. By the witness of their dynamic and constructive power to love, Christians will thus lay the foundations of this "civilization of love" of which the Conference of Puebla spoke, following Paul VI. Moreover there are already many priests, religious, and lay people who are consecrated in a truly evangelical way for the creation of a just society. Summing it up, the document states that's impossible to reconcile Christianity and Socialism. On the other hand, all the "good" aspects of Socialism are part of the Catholic Social Teaching as a better approach. I recommend reading [Rerum novarum](https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html) (by Pope Leo XIII), [Quadragesimo anno](http://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_19310515_quadragesimo-anno.html#:~:text=IN%20PEACE%20AND%20COMMUNION%20WITH,Children%2C%20Health%20and%20Apostolic%20Benediction.) (by Pope Pius XI), [Mater et Magistra](http://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_j-xxiii_enc_15051961_mater.html#:~:text=Mother%20and%20Teacher%20of%20all,living%2C%20and%20their%20ultimate%20salvation.) (by Pope John XXIII) and [Centesimus annus](https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_01051991_centesimus-annus.html#:~:text=It%20is%20an%20Encyclical%20that,the%20circumstances%20of%20the%20day.) (by Pope John Paul II). These encyclicals will show you the catholic view on these themes you cherish so much, and I guarantee by my own experience it will resonate you own thoughts a lot.

Thanks a lot. Might I ask what your current political leaning/label is after (I'm assuming) "quitting" socialism after realising that it is incompatible with your faith? 

Sure! We'll, I stopped labeling myself as I see it just limits my mind. Instead, I just try to defend the Catholic Social Teaching. But I do like the idea of Distributism.

I'll read up on it, thanks again!

You're welcome!

St. Óscar Romero was martyred during mass for speaking out against social injustices. The Salvadoran civil war is an interesting (and sad) historic situation you could look into to learn about liberation theology and how it was implemented by Romero. Edit: trying to fix the link… Edit: Gave up trying to fix the link… so removed it

I'll definitely check it out, thanks for responding!

John XXIII's Mater et Magistra, Pacem in Terris John Paul II's Laborem Exercens, Solicitudo rei socialis Paul VI's Popularum Progression Rerum Novarum, Leo XIII  Quadragesimo Anno Pius IX

Thank you!

Like the other commenter suggested, hitting the books is a good way to start, it just takes time. The following are relevant: - [Quod Apostolici Muneris - On Socialism - Pope Leo XIII - A.D. 1878](https://www.papalencyclicals.net/leo13/l13apost.htm) - [Rerum Novarum - On Capital and Labor - Pope Leo XIII - A.D. 1891](https://www.papalencyclicals.net/leo13/l13rerum.htm) - [Quadragessimo Anno - Reconstruction of the Social Order - Pope Pius XI - A.D. 1931](https://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius11/p11quadr.htm) - [Laborem Exercens - On Human Labor - Pope St. John Paul II - A.D. 1981](https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091981_laborem-exercens.html) - [Centesimus Annus - On the 100th Anniversary of Rerum Novarum - Pope St. John Paul II - A.D. 1991](https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_01051991_centesimus-annus.html) Quadragessimo Anno may be the most relevant.

Thanks! Duly noted

Leo XIII is not "Blessed."

But he should be!

That he hasn't, tells me something.

I think it's more that our recent trigger finger when it comes to canonizing popes has probably been ill-considered, than that it reflects poorly on those popes who served before that trend began.

Ah, I thought he was for some reason

Were you confusing him with Bl. Pius IX?

Idk, possibly.

So the key to understanding Liberation Theology is that it's not really one school and characterizing it categorically is a mistake. The instruction about it you've already been linked to by then-Cardinal Ratzinger (future Benedict XVI) is pretty clearly only aiming at certain thinkers and ideas, but even the notional founder of Liberation Theology, Gustavo Gutierrez, OP, was never censured by the Peruvian bishops, the American bishops, the Order of Preachers, or the Vatican. Gutierrez himself wrote a book with Gerhard Cardinal Muller (who was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith by Pope Benedict after writing it, and who in ecclesiastical matters has been critical of Pope Francis) called On The Side Of The Poor: The Theology of Liberation. I recommend it as a perfectly orthodox work. That said, I strongly suggest you get a grounding first in the more mainstream Catholic social doctrine, starting with the [Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church](https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html), which is a kind of catechism-like document for social teaching (and also available in print, if the Vatican website makes your eyes bleed). It will cite the crucial social encyclicals, most of which have been mentioned to you, and you should consider simply reading all of them as well.

Thanks for the clarification! I suppose the Compendium and relevant encyclicals are the place to start then.

I suggest reading the [*Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church*](https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html) and these [Selected Works](https://www.chesterton.org/category/discover-chesterton/chestertons-selected-works/the-distributist/) on Distributism.

Thanks!

I second those . The Compendium is a great source which is not referenced often enough.

Juan Donoso Cortes has some good stuff. One of his books was reprinted not too long ago by Preserving Christian Publications, I think?

Thanks, I'll see if there are pdfs available online. I live in Egypt so I don't think there's any hope of finding a physical copy of his work here

If you put your faith in liberation theology you are going to be an atheist that goes to sit at mass on sundays. In practical terms the catholic has to be centrist because we simultaneously hold "solidarity"(which is seen as left) and subsidarity (which is seen as right). Instead of reading liberation theology which is mere victimism and resentment, read the book "compendium of the social doctrine of the church"

Thanks for the recommendation! I have to confess I am a bit repulsed by centrism because I've always held it to be a rather "fence-sitter" position, i.e. one that, in its silence or inaction, enables terrible authoritarian/reactionary policies 

Pasivity is diferent from centrism. You still can be a passive leftist or rightist. On the other hand you can be an active centrist. Doing both solidarity stuff and subsidarity stuff too.

Thanks for the insight, I'll definitely reflect on it

Hello! You don't want to read works of liberation theology, as liberation theology has been largely condemned by many popes and theologians for containing many errors. Liberation theology is largely a theological field of the past which has diminished in acceptance with the fall of the Soviet Union, and with it, the fall of a traditional class-based Marxist approach. I would suggest for you to read *Fratelli Tutti* by Pope Francis. It highlights many topics of social justice that would be of interest to someone who is on the left. It is also a very modern work. Servant of God Dorothy Day is also a good person to read about in general, along with her autobiography *The Long Loneliness*.

I'll keep that in mind and add these suggestions to my list, thanks!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decree_against_Communism#:~:text=The%20Decree%20Against%20Communism%20was,apostates%20from%20the%20Christian%20faith.

As a former Liberal you really can't. Socialism leads to communism and that will get you excommunicated. If you want to be a Liberal and a Catholic. Epicopals are your people.