Priests, prelates, and people : a history of European Catholicism since 1750

The Catholic Church has always been a major player in European and world history. Whether it has enjoyed a religious dominance or existed as a minority religion, Catholicism has never been diverted from political life. “Priests, Prelates and People” records the Church struggling to adapt to the new political landscape ushered in by the French Revolution, and shows how the formation of nation states and identities was both helped and hindered by the Catholic establishment. It portrays the Vatican increasingly out of step in the wake of world war, Cold War and the massive expansion of the developing world, with its problems of population growth and under-development. The Catholic Church Has Always Been A Major Player In European And World History. Whether It Has Enjoyed A Religious Dominance Or Existed As A Minority Religion, Catholicism Has Never Been Divorced From Political And Social Life. The Alliance Between Altar And Crown Had Been An Established Fact For Several Centuries. Priests, Prelates And People Records The Church Struggling To Adapt To The New Political And Social Landscape Ushered In By The French Revolution And Shows How The Formation Of National States And Identities Was Both Helped And Hindered By The Catholic Establishment. Faced With The Emergence Of Modern Mass Politics, The Catholic Church Has Frequently Diverged From Lay Opinion. Nicholas Atkin And Frank Tallett Show The Vatican Increasingly Out Of Step In The Wake Of World Wars, The Cold War And The Massive Expansion Of The Developing World, With Its Problems Of Population Growth And Under-development.--book Jacket. Catholicism In Retrenchment : The Eighteenth Century -- Catholicism In Revolution : 1789-1815 -- Catholicism Restored : 1815-1850 -- Catholicism Retuned : 1850-1914 -- Catholicism And Reaction : 1914-45 -- Catholicism Revised : 1945-2002. Nicholas Atkin And Frank Tallet. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 344-364) And Index. Preface -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- One Catholicism in Retrenchment: the Eighteenth Century -- Two Catholicism in Revolution: 1789-1815 -- Three Catholicism Restored 1815-50 -- Four Catholicism Retuned, 1850-1914 -- Five Catholicism and Reaction, 1914-45 -- Six Catholicism Revised: 1945-2002 -- Seven Conclusion: Catholicism Reviewed -- Notes -- Bibliographical Essay -- Index