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BECs in Socio-Cultural Perspective

The BECs are a very complex and diverse ecclesial phenomena. While the Latin American experience is unique, there is, nonetheless, much diversity. They are also flowering in 'Third World' countries and are beginning to appear in rich nations as well. Our reflection will focus upon the Latin American situation, with special reference to the BECs (Comunidades Ecclesiales de Base) in Brazil-simply because I know them best. I shall attempt to situate them in the widest possible socio-cultural and ecclesial context, beyond the frontiers of my country. In order to understand the BECs we must always seek to understand the historical, structural and contextual causes. Each comunidade has its own small and very personal history. But we can only give our attention here to the common elements of a larger history which encompasses all of our countries. Our contextual analysis will focus fundamentally upon Brazil, with comparisons to other countries where BECs have also appeared. Within the BECs, new theological and pastoral problems have arisen. The theological problems refer above all to ecclesiological questions with considerable repercussions for other aspects of dogmatics. The pastoral questions have to do with articulation of faith and politics, the BECs and instances of popular struggle.