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CENTRE FOR LIBERATION THEOLOGIES
Forum for Liberation Theologies
Last Update: 14 March 2007

Programme Statement:	See the activities for this academic year
The Forum for Liberation Theology is one of the projects of the Centre for Liberation Theology, a research center of the Faculty of Theology at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. The meetings offer a forum for the examination and discussion of contemporary issues and events of international importance from a liberationist perspective. These informal sessions provide both students and professors an alternative learning experience outside the formal-academic classroom atmosphere. The Forum gives us the opportunity to be confronted with the day to day realities of the lives of the poor, their actual struggles and the global socio-economic, political and cultural contexts which hinder or facilitate their liberation. Through this exploration of diverse issues, we are also challenged to open ourselves to the wide-ranging depths of religious experience especially from the perspective of the poor, to test the pertinency of our theological understanding and to incorporate all these into the formation of our theological thinking. The meetings of the Forum are scheduled approximately once each month throughout the academic year. The various topics for the year are decided in the beginning of the year at a General Meeting which is both an evaluation and planning session. In this brainstorming activity, the group's diverse concerns, interests and issues are brought to the fore and are deliberated, areas of interest are highlighted for the coming year. The presenters include guests who are invited by the group, as well as students and professors from within the group or from the wider academic community. The Forum also takes advantage of the presence of speakers/authors engaged in the work of liberation and contextualization, mostly from the Third World, who happen to be visiting Europe. The Forum participants consist of a wide and diverse cross-section of the Leuven academic community and beyond. While the idea of liberation certainly underlies much of what we do, participation is not limited to those having expertise in academic theologies of liberation. Rather our meetings also seek opportunities to meet and engage the group's rich diversity of interests, cultures, experiences and perspectives. Average attendance approximately consists of 40-50 people. Most of the participants are master's and doctoral students of the Faculty of Theology. Occasionally, however, students and professors from other faculties and friends from outside the university community also attend our forums. The Forum is administered by a Core Group that works with Prof. Georges De Schrijver and Prof. Jacques Haers to plan sessions, to consult with guest-speakers, to handle publicity and to make the necessary practical arrangements. The Forum regularly meets at the Holy Spirit College, Naamsestraat 40, B-3000, Leuven, unless specified otherwise.	Annual Reports: Academic Year 1990-1991, compiled by John Ries. Academic Year 1991-1992. Academic Year 1992-1993, compiled by David Gentry-Akin. Academic Year 1993-1994, compiled by John Ries. Academic Year 1994-1995, compiled by John Ries. Academic Year 1995-1996, compiled by John Ries. Academic Year 1996-1997. Academic Year 1997-1998, compiled by Daniel Franklin Pilario. Academic Year 1998-1999, compiled by Daniel Franklin Pilario. Academic Year 1999-2000, compiled by Daniel Franklin Pilario. Academic Year 2000-2001, complied by Lope Florente Lesigues. Academic Year 2001-2002, compiled by Rolando Tuazon. Academic Year 2002-2003, compiled by Ino Cueto. See the activities for this year Academic Year 2003-2004, compiled by Ino Cueto. See the activities for this year Academic Year 2004-2005 compiled by Ino Cueto. See the activities for this year Academic Year 2005-2006 compiled by Charles Irudayam. See the activities for this year