Child Liberation Theology

Abstract

This article retrieves the seminal work of Janet Pais in her book, Suffer the Children: A Theology of Liberation by a Victim of Child Abuse, to develop the contours of child liberation for our time. Key elements of child liberation include: freedom from material deprivation; freedom from neglect; freedom from corporal punishment and physical abuse; and freedom from sexual abuse. Biblical and theological resources are articulated, and concrete advocacy steps are proposed. These measures include the development and implementation of certified child protection policies by every congregation to guard against the sexual abuse of children.