Christians for Socialism

Cristianos por el socialismo (CPS; English: Christians for Socialism) was a worldwide political and cultural movement focused on social inequality and economic injustice, inspired by liberation theology. It began in April 1971, and first gained notoriety when a collection of eighty Chilean priests, known as the "Group of 80", publicly declared their support of the construction of socialism along the lines being followed by then-President Salvador Allende. The Secretariat of Christians for Socialism was formally established in September 1973. The group was predominantly composed of Catholic members of the Christian left who were inspired and spurred on by the Second Vatican Council.

CPS was founded to counteract a presumption that Christian institutions were inherently opposed to socialism. While its founders found aspects of socialist programs that they wished to critique, they wanted to do so as insiders within the socialist movement, rather than as adversaries. In keeping with this goal, leaders cultivated strong ties with Fidel Castro. It was intended as a movement of active political involvement and participation, and involved discussions bringing together current political events and church documents in light of each other. CPS inspired a series of social programs in the public sector. Priests in CPS led union units and organized peasant federations.

In Chile the immediate antecedent to CPS was the movement. The Christian Associations of Italian Workers (ACLI) was very supportive and encouraged its growth there. Many of the young people who had been involved in the protests of 1968 soon adhered to the CPS movement as well.

Prominent leaders include the Salesian priest and Lidia Menapace, who was also a significant figure in the Italian Catholic resistance during World War II. In Spain, Alfonso Carlos Comin was a key leader in establishing the movement. The theologian Gustavo Gutierrez was also a member and led sessions at all the major conferences.

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