(29 Apr 2005)
1. Zoom into cottage where Leonardo Boff has lived since 1992
2. Boff and his wife Marcia Miranda walk out of house
3. Boff and Miranda walking through garden with one of the three cats they have
4. Boff entering his office
5. Cover page of book reading: Church: Charisma and Power"
6. Boff looking at a book in his office
7. Front cover of the Essay written in German that was published with the help of Joseph Ratzinger, shows words thanking Joseph Ratzinger for the help
8. Boff writing in his computer
9. Various of Boff
10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Leonardo Boff, Theologian and Writer:
"If the Pope focuses on Europe and its Christianity, that means he will only focus on religion. If the Pope focuses on the world problems such as hunger, inequality and environmental damage, the focus will be on the search for a basic type of ethic that will unite humanity."
11. Books
12. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Leonardo Boff, Theologian and Writer:
"From the European and the Pope's perspective, Latin America is already mostly Christian. There is no danger of losing followers. But there must be measures so followers are not lost to other Christian denominations"
13. Books
14. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Leonardo Boff, Theologian and Writer:
"I never had problems with him (the new Pope) - he had problems with me. I hope that he will once again be the theologian I met as a young man in Germany, a man with an open mind who even harshly criticised Vatican strategies, who asked for more liberties to talk on culture and science. I hope he will be again the man I use to know. That would be very good for the church and for humanity"
15. Tilt from mountains to Boff and Miranda in their garden
STORYLINE:
The leading figure of the Liberation Theology movement of South America - and a former friend of Pope Benedict XVl - is still a strong voice in the Christian fight on behalf of the poor people of Third World countries.
With 72 books published in over 30 countries, Leonardo Boff is now preparing a further three in clear opposition to the "obsequious silence" that was imposed on him by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 1984.
Then, Liberation Theology was very strong in Brazil throughout South America.
Boff became famous all over the world in 1982, when he launched his most controversial book, called "Church: Charisma & Power".
A best-seller, his theories espoused in it on Liberation Theology attracted the attention of Ratzinger.
His first contact with Ratzinger happened in 1968, in Munich, Germany. Boff was studying theology and attempting to publish this (see shotlist) 600 page essay. Ratzinger found a publishing company and gave him money to help with costs.
In 1984, a letter from Cardinal Ratzinger stated that his book "Church: Charisma & Power" had many points that needed to be discussed in Rome.
On May 1, 1985, Boff was fined for his reinterpretation of Catholic dogma. He was then asked to follow an "obsequious silence".
In 1992, a second round of fines was imposed against Boff. The Catholic Church asked him to leave Brazil and Latin America, with two options: to live in a monastery in South Korea - or to live in the Philippines.
In response, Boff left the Catholic Church and married theologian Marcia Miranda. The pair have since had six children.
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