This essay analyses the role of liberation theology through Lacan’s four discourses. Understanding liberation theology in terms of the hysteric’s discourse allows one to affirm the important role of liberation theology’s opposition to ecclesial authority (master’s discourse) and the theologians who defend that authority (university discourse). However, this understanding also recognises that the hysteric’s opposition simultaneously relies upon that which it protests. By making the quarter turn to the analyst’s discourse, one is able to preserve the moment of liberation theology’s critique, while allowing that critique to generate the new discourse of materialist theology.