When Enough Is No Longer Enough

Produced during one of the most volatile times in the sociopolitical history of Chile, Tiemponuevo's song “Ya no basta con rezar” [“It is no longer enough to pray”] epitomizes the central tenet of this book as it confronts head-on the ever-conflicting intersection between faith and politics in the effort to bring about revolutionary change. This song advocates for the increased participatory role of priests in the social movements of the second half of the twentieth century, a role that goes beyond the traditional functions of observer and spiritual caretaker. Given the spirit of change pervasive throughout the Latin American subcontinent and the mounting pressure to build more equitable societies as enunciated by the success of the Cuban Revolution, this song is an indictment of the conservative Roman Catholic Church hierarchy. “Ya no basta con rezar” questions whether the church is able to live up to its basic tenet, namely, the preaching of a gospel rooted in the well-being of the poor, the oppressed, and the vulnerable; or if it will side with the powerful to maintain the status quo. This song delves into the theological fracture looming in Latin America from the inception of liberation theology to the present.