Camilo Torres Restrepo, “As a Colombian, as a Sociologist, as a Christian, and as a Priest, I Am a Revolutionary”

The start of Latin America’s Reaction Era (1960-1990) was one characterized by “revolutionary fervor” (Chasteen 322). One of the most famous Colombian revolutionaries of the 1960s was Camilo de Torres Restrepo (1929-1966). Restrepo was a sociologist and served as a priest until cardenal Luis Concha Córdoba (1891-1975) removed him from the clergy in 1965 (Restrepo 141). Restrepo advocated for “a ‘new Christianity’” where “the Roman Catholic church […] take[s] a more active role in the reformation of society” (Theisen 301). In response to the economic and political conflict of 1965, Restrepo led a socio-economic movement with the goal that the people of Colombia “may produce the decisions” (306). In his work as a revolutionary, Restrepo wrote a document entitled “As a Colombian, as a Sociologist, as a Christian, and as a Priest, I Am a Revolutionary”. In this document, Restrepo conveys his ideas through a series of messages directed towards Christians, communists, the military, and university students. 

Restrepo argues that Christians should join his revolution as serving in this revolution enforces the biblical principle of “love thy neighbor”. He wrote that Christian participation in the revolution is a “complete way to create love for all” (Restrepo 142). With respect to Communists, Restrepo emphasizes that he is not anti-Communist and that it would be beneficial for Communists to align themselves with his cause because of their “common goals: opposing the oligarchy and the domination of the United States, in order to take power for the popular class” (143). Restrepo believes that the military needs to be educated about Colombia and its constitution so that they can decide how they would like to participate in the revolution (143-44). He critiques the military due to how they “repres[s] the people in order to protect a few small privileged families” (143). Restrepo addresses university students saying that they have the potential to solve the problems facing the Colombian nation, but their privilege prevents them from meaningfully participating in revolutionary causes (144-45). Restrepo’s arguments are important in understanding Colombian history as his “social concern and political activism” influenced Latin American political activists (Theisen 303).

Works Cited

“Camilo Torres Restrepo: 46 años de vigencia para el cristianismo revolucionario y el movimiento social.” Notiagen: Noticias de Colombia. Last modified February 20, 2012. Accessed March 10, 2021. https://notiagen.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/video-camilo-torres-restrepo-46-anos-de-vigencia-para-el-cristianismo-revolucionario-y-el-movimiento-social/. 

Chasteen, John C. “Reaction.” In Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America, edited by Jon Durbin, 4th ed., 297-327. New York: W.W. Norton, 2016.

Restrepo, Camilo Torres. “As a Colombian, as a Sociologist, as a Christian, and as a Priest, I Am a Revolutionary.” In The Colombia Reader: History, Culture, Politics, edited by Farnsworth-Alvear Ann, Palacios Marco, and López Ana María Gómez, 141-46. Durham; London: Duke University Press, 2017. Accessed March 8, 2021. doi:10.2307/j.ctv125jtrj.28.

Sahaquiel9102. “File: Busto de Camilo Torres Restrepo.jpg.” Wikimedia Commons. Last Modified January 12, 2021. Accessed March 10, 2021. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Busto_de_Camilo_Torres_Restrepo.jpg. 

Theisen, Gerald. “The Case of Camilo Torres Restrepo.” Journal of Church and State 16, no. 2 (1974): 301-15. Accessed March 8, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23914573.