Relations with the Catholic Church Flashcards
(20 cards)
why did M want to appease the catholic church
-would look good internationally
-would look favourable to elites, would appear less radical and revolutionary
-both had reason to collaborate against socialism
who was leader of PPI
don sturzo - previously had sought out coalitions to keep M out of power
what tensions were there when M came to power
-continued existence of catholic trade unions, rival to fascist organisations
-education, wanted to indoctrinate youth into fascism which clashed wth values of the church
-fascist youth organisations clashed with catholic action
-M had previously been a critic of religion, thought that church was holding back italy from modernisation and promoted superstitions
what are some policies that helped improve relations
-1923 helped save near bankrupcy of bank of rome which managed assets of the church
-clergy salaries increased and exempted from taxation
-granted 3 mill lire to restoration of damaged churches
-religious education reinstated in elementary schoo;s
-crucifix restored to classrooms
-milans catholic uni given official recognition
-protection given to religious processions
-tightened laws of divorce, abortion impossible, penalties for adultery
-had his children baptised, married wife in church
overall what were catholic church wins
-gained more influence in schools
-had full control over vatican
-crucifix required in classrooms and courts
-had state funding to rescue bank of rome
-protected against socialism
-guarantee of church rights and recognition
what were fascist wins for increased relations
-reached rural italian support
-gained passive support as many were catholic, international prestige when he needed it most
-settled long term conflict which he could use in propaganda
-pope agreed to dissolve PPI so less opposition
-regime seen as legitimate, no more roman question
what did the fascists lose in inceasing relations
-couldnt be truly totalitarian
-couldnt have total control over education, had to share influence in youth groups
-competition with catholic action
when was lateran pacts signed
1929 - ended long term conflict
what did the lateran pacts agree on
-vatican city an independent state led by the pope, catholicism the sole religion of the italian nation
-financial agreement that state would give compensation for land lost in process of unification
-concordat recognised church organisations would remain independent from the state, religious education compulsory, teachers and textbooks also approved by the church, Pope allowed to appoint all bishops and government had right to veto anyone who was a political enemy
how much did the church recieve as part of lateran pacts
750 mill lire, further 1 bill in state bonds
what were benefits for mussolini from signing the lateran pacts
-majority supported agreements, could get their support
-reduced anti fascist activity from catholics
-made limited concessions so werent a significant threat to him
-alot of prestige in italy and abroad
-supported cult of il duce, a man of peace
-announced referendum and massive majority voted in favour
why did the church consider signing the pacts
had shared values:
-desire for stability and order
-discipline
-respect for hierarchy
-hostility to liberal values
-importance of family and marriage
-primary role of women as mothers
-fear of socialism
what are examples that show church in favour of fascism
-priests participated in ONB
-priests and PNF cooperated in campaigning against decadent films and wearing of short skirts
-slogan ‘for pope and duce’ emphasised
-clergy gave fascist salutes and praised mussolini in pastoral letters
-agreed in entering spanish civil war, wanted to help fight socialism
-supported abyssinia war as it was an opportunity to spread catholicism
whats an example that shows not all catholics in favour of fascism
-radical fascists critical of concordat
-some priests not fully supportive, 1930 300 of them supported a protest letter that condemned the archbishop of milan for openly supporting the regime
what was the tensions in 1931
-fascist government attempted to suppress catholic action
-pope criticised in an encycilical in a foreign newpaper
-compromise reached that catholic action restricted to teaching religious/educational/recreational activities
-church would still get some influence over youth
-also agreed that fascists mustnt persecute catholic schools or interfere with catholic uni in milan
how much did membership of catholic action increase by in 1930s
1930 - 250,000
1939 - 388,000
when were antisemitic race laws introduced
1938
what was pope XI opinion of antisemitic laws
-condemned antisemitism and openly criticised germany for persecution of jews
-warned fascist government not to implement it (really they more concerned with protecting catholic action against M)
were the antisemitic laws popular amongst italians
-not popular, didnt think there was a jewish problem in italy
-fascist press tried to convince that jews were a seperate race and not just a seperate religion, they also attacked catholic church and pope pius XI after they publically opposed them
why was there no changes to the antisemitic policies
-pope pius xi failed to effectively condemn him, was in a weak political position —- was old and died feb 1939 just before an encyclical that would directly oppose fascism was due to be published
-many members of catholic church also had antisemitic views, M and farinacci quick to exploit this to justify the laws
-key advisors to Pius XI viewed jews as part of an alliance with socialists
