ABSTRACT
The Catholic Church has always played a major role in Latin American politics. This chapter reflects on the major changes and assesses the probable role of the Catholic Church as the new millennium approaches. It also examines the role of the hierarchical church and the path taken by the grassroots church in an attempt to trace the evolution of the significant facets of religious life in Latin America. Supporters of liberation theology in the 1960s and 1970s often forgot the rich radical legacy, dating back to the early days of colonialism, when church representatives rejected the goals of Madrid and the Vatican. The demands on the universal Catholic Church are so great, the conservative agenda so deeply rooted, and the ecclesial track record so firmly established, that their position in the overall scheme of things will be overlooked. Finally, the chapter concludes with some observations concerning the major challenges facing the church and some probable future developments.
