M3- Relationship with the Catholic Church Flashcards
what did Mussolini declare Catholicism to be in the New Programme?
the political force which would bring out Italian unity and nationalism
what did Mussolini say about Fascism’s view of the Catholic Church?
that fascism neither preaches nor practices anticlericalism
when did Pope Pius XI become Pope?
January 1922
why did Pius XI appreciate fascism?
he saw it as the only means in which Italy could be saved from a left-wing revolution
why did the RCC hate the socialists/communists?
they claimed that their societies had no God
why did the RCC hate the Liberals?
they had been anti-Catholic throughout their time in office
what policies did Mussolini introduce which benefitted the RCC?
- religious education was reintroduced
- crucifixes were restored to public buildings
- priests got a pay rise
- ban on freemasonry
- ban on anticlerical journals
- dropped proposed plans to tax church property
what personal commitment did Mussolini take to get closer to the RCC?
he had his 3 children baptised and married his wife in a church
what happened to the PPI?
the Pope supported the PNF instead as they were willing to support the Church
he no longer gave any support to the PPI
when was Luigi Sturzo ordered to resign?
1923
Pope ordered his resignation and called for PPI members to support the PNF instead
what was the Pope’s position on the Matteotti crisis?
he backed Mussolini and the PNF
when were the Lateran Pacts signed?
11 February 1929
what were the three sections of the Lateran Pacts?
a treaty
a financial convention
a Concordat
how much land did the Lateran Pacts give to the Pope?
44 hectares
the sovereign state of the Vatican City
how much compensation did the Lateran Pacts give to the Pope?
750 million lire
in compensation for the loss of Church land in 1870
what did the Lateran Pacts outline about Catholic youth groups?
they were allowed to continue as long as they did not interfere with Italian politics
what were Catholic youth groups called?
Catholic Action
key aspects of the Lateran Pacts
- 44 hectares of land given to the Pope
- gave the pope 750 million lire for compensation
- Catholicism was recognised as the official state religion in Italy
- Catholic youth groups allowed to continue as long as no political activities were occurring
how were the Lateran Pacts significant for Mussolini?
he was the man who had solved the Roman Question
his prestige had increased both in Italy and abroad
he now had the support of the RCC which would allow him to complete his consolidation of power
how were the Lateran Pacts a limitation of Mussolini’s dictatorship?
can be seen as a major concession made by Mussolini
he was not the ultimate, unchallenged ruler of Italy as he had given the Church a lot of influence over the Italian people through the Lateran Pacts
in what way had Church support help M?
in the March 1929 plebiscite
support of economic, social and foreign policy in the 1930s
what did M use the plebiscites for?
so that he could claim that he had the support of the Italian people behind him
how had the Church supported Mussolini in the March 1929 plebiscite?
as a part of the Lateran Pacts, the Church were obliged to voice their support for the Fascists
Catholic Action appealed to voters to vote ‘yes’
result of the 1929 plebiscite?
98% of 8.63 million voted yes
led to the approvement of the Lateran Pacts
what went on to be the main area of tension between M and the RCC?
the Catholic Action groups
what became the problem with Catholic Action?
- former PPI members became leaders
- accused of trying to form trade unions
- accused of being anti-fascist
- accused of playing sport
what was the Pope’s response to opposition to Catholic Action?
he had argued that the Fascists were trying to steal children from Christ to make them worship the state
what deal was struck between M and the RCC in 1931?
- keep Catholic Action
- more restriction and surveillance
- NO political direction or indoctrination
- NO sport
why did M not want Catholic Action playing sport?
it would rival his own ONB
how many members were there of Catholic Action in 1930?
250,000
how many members of Catholic youth organisations by 1939?
388,000
what aspects of Fascist life were condemned by the RCC?
girls’ involvement in sport
- RCC believed they should be trained to be maternal figures
the culture of prostitution amongst young Italian Fascists
- prostitution became a part of Fascist culture
what became a problem for the RCC in 1938?
M’s growing anti-semitic legislation and the persecution of Jews
who succeeded Pius XI in December 1939?
Pius XII
what was Pius XII view of anti-Semitic legislation?
he would allow Mussolini to enforce his anti-Semitic legislation during WW2
