The Catholic Church and Politics in Colombia: A Shifting Foundation - Protestant Growth, Post-La Violencia Dynamics, Frente Nacional, Catholic Charismatics, Priest-Government Clashes, Repression Role

This important report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. Recent research reveals a precipitous decrease in Catholic adherents across Latin America. Since 1970, numerous Latin Americans have professed a shift to Protestantism. Scholars have analyzed this trend within certain countries and as a regional tendency, but have not comprehensively addressed the Colombian case.
Colombia is often considered the most Catholic of Latin American countries, with the Church historically much enmeshed in national politics. This study evaluates shifts in identified Colombian Catholics, the emergence of Protestantism, and other religious phenomena during three key historical epochs since 1930. Given Catholicism's historical bond with politics and society, these trends are meaningful for the future of Colombian politics.
While this study reaches some conclusions regarding future Colombian religious-political dynamics, its major contribution is its synstudy of the history and literature covering the chief religious-political themes in Colombian history since 1930 and revealing patterns of religious-political interaction, where such an endeavor has not been accomplished elsewhere. Aiming to integrate sufficiently detailed historical accounts and statistics with diverse published academic analyses, this study lays the groundwork for more detailed prognostic studies on the future of the Colombian political system as it relates to a changing, yet in some respects incongruously stationary religious environment.
CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION * A. IMPORTANCE OF THE QUESTIONS * B. TYPOGRAPHIC CONVENTIONS * C. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE * 1. Historical Framework * 2. Unreliable Measures of Religiosity * 3. La Violencia * 4. Protestant Growth and Post-La Violencia Dynamics * 5. The Frente Nacional and Popular Engagement * 6. The Constituent Assembly and Thereafter * D. POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS AND HYPOTHESES * E. DESIGN OF THE ANALYSIS * CHAPTER II - A CONCISE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND * A. COLOMBIA'S DEMOCRACY AND THE CHURCH * B. THE CHURCH'S POLITICAL NATURE * C. 1930: LIBERALS TAKE POWER * CHAPTER III - 1930-1960: LA VIOLENCIA * A. SUMMARY * B. PRECURSORS AND CAUSES * 1. Gaitan: The Catalyst * 2. El Bogotazo * C. GENERAL CHARACTER OF LA VIOLENCIA * D. POLITICAL UNDERCURRENTS * E. THE CHURCH'S RELATIONSHIP TO VIOLENCE * F. PROTESTANTS REPRESSED * G. PROTESTANT RESILIENCE * H. CATHOLIC REFLECTIONS * I. ANALYSIS * 1. Shifting Paradigms * 2. On Catholicism's Moral Authority * 3. Criticism of Adherent Statistics * 4. Optimistic Perspectives on Catholic Roles * 5. Evolving Nature of the Conflict: Emerging Guerrillas * J. CONCLUSION * CHAPTER IV - 1960-1990: THE FRENTE NACIONAL AND VATICAN II * A. SUMMARY * B. SYSTEMIC TRANSFORMATIONS * 1. Vatican II * 2. Camilo Torres * 3. Catholic Action * 4. Priest-Government Clashes * 5. Urbanization's Effects on Catholic Unity * 6. Medellin 1968: Latin American Bishops' Conference * 7. CEBs * 8. Liberation Theology * 9. Puebla * C. SUMMARY OF CATHOLIC CHALLENGES * D. ANALYSIS * 1. Trends Toward (and Away from) Popular Linkages * 2. Decreasing and Questionable Adherence * 3. Urbanization and Changing Social Norms * E. CONCLUSION * CHAPTER V - 1990-PRESENT: CONSTITUTIONAL OPENING * A. SUMMARY * B. PRECURSORS TO THE 1990 CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY * C. THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY AND ITS RESULTS * 1. Fiscal Policy * 2. Political Pluralism, Civil Rights, and Human Rights * 3. Source of Sovereignty * 4. Education * 5. Freedom of Religion * 6. Cultural Protections At Odds With Religious Liberty