Catholic Revolution

Catholic Revolution

The revolution of the Catholic Church in Latina America depicts a significant transition of the world from monarchical dominance into modernism of democracy (Wright-Rios 44). Latin America experienced numerous revolutionary eventualities that culminated in the change of the political structure of the countries. Chile experienced a slow but consistent change in the separation of the Roman Catholicism and influence from national politics. The reign of President Federico Errazuriz marked a new tenure of the relationship between politics and Catholic Church dominance. Federico was a conservative. However, his relationship with Archbishop Fr. Cresente Errazuriz significantly reshaped the status quo. Fr. Cresente was a renowned writer whose stance was that the church should rise above politics. The family of president Federico was among the few influential families in Chilean politics. Through the influence of Fr. Cresente, the country experienced a significant balance between liberal and conservative factions.

Brazil was the most affected by the revolution. The country experienced a revolt of the public against the influence of the church on the country’s politics. The emergence of factions that advocated for a republican approach to the national politics gained traction in public with a revolution in the offing (Schwaller 172). The Brazilian president had initially succeeded in controlling the church in his realms. However, the increased allegiance to the international church by local bishops and their alignment to papacy reduced the control of the emperor over the church. The uprising of the republican movement led to the growth of a new approach to the politics of the country. Liberal ideology grew tremendously among the citizens and clergy. The republican movement initiated a revolt against lower-ranked clergy before the insurgency grew, and liberals rejected dogma and doctrines peddled by senior clergy and bishops. Additionally, numerous priests and bishops joined the movement advocating for the separation of the church from national politics.

The fall of the Brazilian monarchy heavily contributed to the separation of leadership and religion that ensued. The actions of the emperor against various clergy and the church brought about the religious question. Liberalism followed as the church experienced divisions among the bishops and other clergies (Schwaller 169). Some leaders of the church became ideologically inclined to the republican movement, while others remained loyal to the notion of the church controlling politics. A significant incident was the fight to end slavery in Brazil by the liberals. The end of slavery marked a new beginning for the country regarding the ideologies of religion and politics. The ousting of the emperor by a coup paved the way for the establishment of a republican government. A new constitution was promulgated two years after the establishment of a military state. Disestablishment of the church was an essential goal of the republican government. Antônio Conselheiro from Canudos played a significant role in staging religious uprisings that led to the revolution of the church. His actions contributed immensely to the disestablishment of the Catholic Church.

Generally, the clergy were successful in the implementation of the new ideologies and perceptions of the church. The uprising of liberalism and republican factions provided a favorable atmosphere for the incorporation of new religious approaches. The new alignment of local bishops and clergy to the republican movement depicted that the priest realized that the people had different beliefs about the church. The relationship was fluctuating at the beginning of the promulgation of the new religious reforms, but it became supportive as the disestablishment of the church was fully realized.

Works Cited

Wright-Rios, Edward. Revolutions in Mexican Catholicism: Reform and Revelation in Oaxaca, 1887–1934. Duke University Press, 2009. 43-168

Schwaller, John Frederick. The history of the Catholic Church in Latin America: From Conquest to revolution and beyond. NYU Press, 2011. 166-188