Religion and Politics in Spain : The Spanish Church in Transition, 1962-96

An examination of the Spanish Church in transition over recent decades, as it responded to far-reaching societal change. Having disengaged from Francoism, it embraced democracy but found itself somewhat at odds with various aspects of the modernisation of Spain, the ongoing process of secularisation and the 'supermarket' approach to doctrine of its own membership. In its goal of maintaining influence, its long-established strategy of alliances with secular - political and socio-economic - power groups became pointless in a society not so much hostile as indifferent to institutionalised religion. The challenges facing the Spanish Church are placed in the context of Vatican and grassroots Church developments as well as within the sweep of Spanish history. As it responded to the far-reaching changes in society of recent decades, the Spanish Church came up against challenging socio-political and theological issues. The Second Vatican Council forced it to examine its alliance with the Franco regime. Having disengaged from dictatorship, it embraced democracy but found itself somewhat at odds with various aspects of the modernisation of Spain, the ongoing process of secularisation and the `supermarket' attitude to doctrine of its own membership. Intra-ecclesial friction was as frequent as conflict with politicians. The Church's traditional strategy of alliances with secular - political and socio-economic - power groups became increasingly pointless in its endeavour to recapture relevance in a society which was not so much hostile as indifferent to institutionalised religion. Cardinal Tarancon, General Franco, King Juan Carlos, Adolfo Suarez, Felipe Gonzalez, Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, theologians, Catholic workers, grassroots Christian communities, radicals and reactionaries, are among the protagonists occupying centre stage and shaping the action Front Matter....Pages i-xvii Introduction....Pages 1-5 The Spanish Church and the Second Vatican Council....Pages 6-24 Aggiornamento ma non troppo (1969 to mid-1971)....Pages 25-41 The Victory of the ‘Extreme Centre’ (mid-1971 to mid-1973)....Pages 42-60 Preparing for a Future without Franco (mid-1973 to 1975)....Pages 61-78 The Church and the Coming of Democracy (1975 to 1978)....Pages 79-98 Learning to Live with Reality (1979 to 1982)....Pages 99-118 The Church and the PSOE Government (1982 to 1996)....Pages 119-140 Back Matter....Pages 141-183 Having disengaged from Francoism, the Spanish Church embraced democracy, but found itself somewhat at odds with various aspects of the modernisation process. This volume examines the political history of the Spanish Church since 1962