The Alleged Decline of Liberation Theology: Natural Death or Attempted Assassination?

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This article deals very comprehensively with its subject. The question is clearly stated, and the author backs their argument with widespread sources. I do not think the article needs to be changed. 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 1:
Thank you for your positive comments on my manuscript, "The Alleged Decline of Liberation Theology: Natural Death or Attampted Assassination?" I gather from what you wrote that you did not see a need to do any revisions.
Cordially,
The author

Reviewer 2 Report

The author offers a well focused, well organized and argued essay on the resilience of liberation theology.  The field research offered here is adequate for making the point that LT is still alive in some places.  I believe this essay an important corrective to those state and private actors invested in a false narrative of decline.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 2:
Thank you for your positive comments on my manuscript, "The Alleged Decline of Liberation Theology: Natural Death or Attampted Assassination?" I gather from what you wrote that there is no need to do any revisions.
Cordially,
The author

Reviewer 3 Report

This ms. provides an excellent review of the history of liberation theology in Latin America, which is based on a well-written and well-argued synthesis of secondary sources and so not entirely original, but its volume of critical information, laid out clearly and succinctly is still valuable. And what is more original are [1] the all-too-brief section 5. Signs of Life in Liberation Theology on the surviving vestiges of liberatory players and movement (and so my strongest suggestion is to expand this section as it will likely make more of unique contribution to the literature) and [2] the Brazilian case study based on the author’s own field research. The following section after that on the Kovalik (2013) revelations re the U.S. State Department concerns over the persistence of liberation theology in Latin America may rely on that secondary source, but will also likely be new to many readers, so is valuable too. Like section 5, section 8. The Future of Liberation Theology and the Conclusion would also both benefit from just a bit more discussion of predictions or at least implications of recent events for the future of the movement.

 

Minor comment:

Line 223: “…the U.S. States government…” should be “…the United States government…”

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 3:
Thank you for your helpful suggestions on my manuscript, “The Alleged Decline of Liberation Theology: Natural Death or Attempted Assassination?” I have addressed your requests for changes as follows:

1. Expansion of Section 5 on the signs of life in liberation theology; given that the previous dire predictions were related to papal policies, I have given some detail about the support by Pope Francis;
2. Expansion of Section 8 on the future of liberation theology that provides both a context for predictions and elaboration on its evolution;
3. Expansion of the Conclusion to relate it to recent events, as well as suggestions for further research.

However, I did not agree with the minor edit on the use of “U.S.” rather than “United States.” The prevailing practice among writers in this country is to use “United States” as a noun and “U.S.” as an adjective. This also avoids the term “American” as an adjective for the United States, which Latin Americans find offensive. Given that this manuscript is based on research related to Latin America, I consider it important to avoid that particular adjective. In any case, the use of “U.S.” as an adjective is supported by the Chicago Manual of Style.

I hope that you will find the revision satisfactory.

Cordially,
The author