Abstract
Americans1 can never understand why Latin Americans so often depose those who are “legally” in charge of their government. It is true that Latin America has yet to find a type of government that fits its needs. Neither capitalistic democracy, nor dictatorial or democratic forms of socialism seem to answer Latin American needs. The word “revolution” in the North American mind is always connected with a certain kind of violent fight. Camilo Torres Restrepo, an idol of Latin American revolutionaries, is the picture of a revolutionary in the Northamerican mind. But there are not too many theologians who went as far as Camilo, who stopped ministering at the altar and became a guerilla revolutionary, hoping to turn society upside down2 and to establish justice, after which he returned to the ministry of the altar.3
Camilo is very incisive in his statements about revolution and Christian responsibilities.4