Topic 3: Church state relations Flashcards
Extent of church involvement
Deeply involved in most aspects of Italian life and influenced popular customs and morality.
Especially true in rural areas, where local priests were held in high regard.
Controlled a network of welfare, educational and financial institutions.
Context for why mussolini wished to gain support of the catholic church
International appeal.
Backing of the church would look favourable in Mussolini’s quest for the support of the Italian elites.
Would make him seem less revolutionary, helping him attract their support.
Obstacles between fascist and catholic relations
1919-22- Catholic Popolari party had been competing with the Fascist movement for political power.
Pre october 1922 the PPI sought coalitions to keep Mussolini out of power.
Tensions post 1922 due to:
Existence of Catholic trade unions, which rivaled Fascist organisations.
Indoctrination of youth into Fascist ideals, which often clashed with Church values.
Fascist youth orgs, clashed with catholic action.
Anti-clerical views of Fascists
Origionally Mussolini was a fervent critic of religion and committed atheist.
M and other fascists belived the Church and Pope held responsibility for Italy’s lack of modernisation and that they promoted superstitions.
The Church viewed the Fascists as a potential threat to social stability.
The Fascists originally espoused anti-clerical beliefs, as the socialists did, this clearly affected how the Church viewed M.
Policies aimed at improving relations with the Catholic Church
Church and state had reason to compromise and collaborate as both shared a fear of socialism.
When M came to power it was sensible for the Church to compromise with the Fascists and accept this new political reality.
Policies:
1923- M saved the near bankrupt bank of Rome, saving the assets of the Church. He authorised the relase of extensive state funding to save the bank.
Clergy salaries were increased and exempted from tax.
3 million lire put towards restoration of damaged churches.
Religious education reinstated in elementary schools, crucifix restored to school rooms and courts.
Protection to religious processions.
Mussolini’s “moral crusade”
Tightened laws around divorce, abortion was made near impossible and penalties were introduced for adultary.
Gambling and heavy drinking discouraged, swearing in public made an offence, short skirts and makeup was discouraged and dancing heavily regulated.
M had his children baptised and, after 10 years of marriage following a civil ceremony, married his wife in church.
Relationship by the end of 1923
Much improved.
Yet tensions remained:
use of violence and totalitarian aspirations of other leading Fascists.
Lack of compromise around demands of the Church or to restore lands of the papal states, or to allow for the increase of papal influence in Italian political affairs.
Relationship by 1926
By 1926 M was in a much stronger possition, having consolidated his power, and wanted to reach a lasting political solution with the Catholic Church.
Forced the PPI to dissolve and entered formal negotiations with the Church to resolve the “Roman question”.
1922-26 laid the foundations for a more lasting agreement between church and state.
Lateran Pacts
Signed in 1929, defined the relationship between Church and state after 3 years of negotiation.
Ended the conflict between the two which had existed since unification in 1870 with the seizure of the papal states.
Since 1870 the Church refused to recognise the legal and political legitimacy of a united Italy.
3 Protocols of the Pacts
1- Vatican City established as an independent state in Rome. Pope recognised as head of this state. Catholicism would be recognised as the sole faith of the Italian nation.
2- Financial agreement which compensated the church for land lost during unification between 1861 and 1870. (750 million lire and 1 billion lire in state bonds).
3- Concordat signed as part of the process, recognised Church admin and religous structures would remain separate and independant from state institutions. Confirmed religious education was compulsory in state secondary schools. Teachers and textbook had to be approved by the Catholic Chruch. The pope allowed to appoint all bishops and the gov had the right to veto any candidate who was a political enemy of fascism.
Other agreements of the Pacts
Church right to censor books, newspapers and films.
Marriage had to be confirmed by a religious service.
Catholic action recognised as an official organisation (the only non-fascist one)
Pope agreed the clergy woud not join any political parties.
Benifits for Mussolini
Mussolini would not be able to make Italy a complete fascist society, but the pacts were a victory for him.
60+ years of conflict had been brought to a formal end.
The vast majority of Italians supported the agreements. Gained M further support from population and reduced Catholic antifa.
M made limited concessions to the church making the Church a lesser threat to his position.
Enourmous domestic and international prestige. Supported his image as a great statesman and a man of peace.
1929 Mussolini authorised a referendum on the pacts and a massive majority voted in favour.
However This would mean there would be no complete fascist revolution and in the long term relations deteriorated, especially post 1938.
Church support for the state
Viewed M as an effective leader who offered protection from socialism.
Shared values (social stability + order, discipline, hierarchy, family + marriage, womens role as mothers, distrust in liberals)
Corporatism emphasised social harmony a key theme in Catholicism.
Many within the church became participants in fascism, priests participated in the ONB, joined in campaigns against decadent films and short skirts.
The slogan “For Pope and Duce” emphasised Church and State Unity. Catholic clergy gave Fascist salutes and praised Mussolini in pastoral letters.
Pope felt Catholic Spain was seriously threatened by socialism and thus backed M’s military support for Franco.
Conquest of Ethiopia seen as an opportunity to spread Catholic faith, supported by the Pope.
Examples of distrust between Fascists and Catholics
Radical Fascists critical of Concordat, thought M betrayed Fascist ideals.
1930- 300 Catholic priests supported protest letter which condemmed the Archbishop of Milan for openly supporting the Fascist regime.
PSI backed foundations of a welfare state, women’s suffrage and Proportional representation voting. Which M strictly opposed. It is likely many within the chruch still held these views throughout the period.
Church state tensions in the 1930s
In the 30s M attempted to make Italian society adopt Fascist ideals resulting in growing tensions with the Church.
1931- F gov attempted to supress Church sponsored group Catholic Action.
Pope criticised this move in foreign newspapers and the papal newspaper (Titled “We have no need”).
Compromise reached when agreed Catholic Action groups would be restricted to religious, educational and recreational activities. This meant that the Catholic Church would retain a degree of influence over the youth.
Membership grew from around 250,000 in 1930 to 388,000 in 1939.
Pope emphasied that as part of this agreement Fascists must not persecute Catholic schools or interfere with either the Catholic uni in Milan or the federation of catholic university students.
