Fascism and the Catholic church Flashcards
(22 cards)
What was said in Mussolini’s new programme?
Got rid of clause calling for confiscation of all church property; rather, Catholicism to be used to drive Italian unity.
Which concessions did Mussolini give the Catholic church?
Reintroduced religious education into schools and restored crucifixes into public buildings.
What effectively ended church/state conflict?
The Lateran Pacts in 1929.
What did the Lateran Pacts do? (3 key points).
-Gave the pope the Vatican City (solved Roman question)
-Recognised Catholicism as the sole religion of Italy.
-Catholic Youth groups- such as Catholic Action- able to continue.
What were the impacts of Catholic Action?
Provided an alternative to fascist youth groups. Youth groups had over 388,000 members by 1939.
What did the pope condemn fascism for?
Stealing away children from the church (non Abbiamo Bisogno)
How did the church influence the population?
Radio Vatican, which broadcasted alternative news.
How did the Church help Mussolini?
Openly supported fascist regime. Promised it would mobilise support for the fascists in a plebiscite called in 1929.
What put strain on the relationship between Mussolini and the Church in 1931?
Mussolini tried to close Catholic Action in 1931; Pope then openly criticised Mussolini and a compromise was reached to allow Catholic Action to stay open.
What put strain on the relationship between Mussolini and the Church in 1938?
The pope was openly critical of Mussolini’s 1938 anti-semitic decrees; not allowing marriage between Jews and Italians went against Catholics allowing Jews to convert to Catholicism.
What 3 categories to group Church/state relations?
1923-28.
1929-31
1931-1940
Key things Mussolini did to improve Church/ State relations 1920-28? (3 key points)
-Adoption of New Programme.
-Concessions (R.E and crucifixes)
-Guarantee that Mussolini would bail out the Bank of Rome 1923- Church had a large stake in it.
Key things the Church did to improve Church/ State relations 1920-28? (2 key points)
-Pope’s support for Mussolini as PM due to his concessions and counter to socialism.
-Pope support for PNF rather than PPI- called for leader of PPI to resign.
Key things the Church did to worsen Church/ State relations 1920-28?
Critical of girls’ involvement in physical activities in fascist youth groups- went against gender roles. Also disapproved fascist view on prostitution.
Key things Mussolini did to improve Church/ State relations 1929-30? What did this lead to?
-Lateran Pacts: Compensation, Vatican City, youth groups, recognition.
-Increased M’s personal prestige but also showed limitations of M’s dictatorship
Key things Mussolini did to weaken Church/ State relations 1929-30?
Nothing
Key things the Church did to strengthen Church/ State relations 1929-30?
Backed fascists and mobilised their support in 1929 plebiscite.
Key things the Church did to weaken Church/ State relations 1929-30?
Nothing
Key things Mussolini did to improve Church/ State relations 1932-40?
Visited the Pope in 1932 and expressed agreement on societal gender values and policy towards the Soviet Union and communism.
Key things the church did to improve Church/ State relations 1932-40?
Supported Mussolini’s 1935 invasion of Abyssinia.
Key things Mussolini did to worsen Church/ State relations 1931-40?
-Anti semitic decrees 1938; undermined Church’s right to allow Jews to convert to Catholicism.
-1931, called for a closure of Catholic Action, showing conflicting interests; his compromise made him look weak.
Key things the church did to weaken Church/ State relations 1932-40?
-Creation of Radio Vatican February 1931. Acted as a counter to fascist propaganda.
-Non Abbiamo Bisogno June 1931.
