Catholic movements in the 20th century Political Catholicism

in 20th century, catholic political movements became strong in spain, italy, germany, austria, ireland, france , latin america. these movements had in common defense of acquired rights of catholic church (attacked anticlerical politicians) , defense of christian faith , moral values (threatened increasing secularization). members of opposing schools of thought called such attempts clericalism.

these catholic movements developed various forms of christian democratic ideology, promoting morally , socially conservative agenda whilst supporting middle ground third way between unrestrained capitalism , state socialism. freemasons seen enemies , vehement opponents of political catholicism. special situation occurred in mexico, atheistic president ruled in 1920s , oppressed church , catholics. led open christian revolution of 1926 1929, known cristero war.

some of earliest important political parties were:

conservative catholic party of switzerland – 1848;
catholic party (belgium) – 1869;
centre party (germany) – origins in 1870;
christian social party (austria) – 1893;
popular liberal action in france – 1901;
general league of roman catholic caucuses (netherlands) – 1904, transformed roman catholic state party in 1926;
slovak people s party – 1918;
croatian popular party – 1919;
italian people s party – 1919;
polish christian democratic party – 1919;
bavarian people s party – 1919;
national league defense of religious liberty in mexico – 1924.
democratic labour party (australia) - 1955

most of these parties in europe joined in white international (1922). franco s mixture of catholicism , nationalism received own brand of national catholicism , inspired similar movements throughout europe.

in addition political parties, catholic/christian trade unions created, fought worker s rights: earliest include:

typographic workers trade union in spain (1897);
solidarity in south africa (1902);
confederation of christian trade unions in belgium (1904);
catholic workers union in mexico (1908);
international federation of christian trade unions (ifcto), in hague in 1920 (which preceded international secretariat of christian trade unions founded in zürich in 1908, led through world confederation of labour (wcl) today s international trade union confederation (ituc));
french confederation of christian workers (1919);
luxembourg confederation of christian trade unions (1921);
canadian catholic federation of labour (1921)
young christian workers in belgium (1924);
catholic worker movement in usa (from 1933).

after world war ii, more unions formed, including:

italian confederation of workers trade unions (from 1950);
christian trade union federation of germany (from 1959);
christian workers union in belize (from 1963);
solidarity in poland (from 1980).

until second vatican council, church did not accept model of modern democracy , expansion social , economic realms because wary of anticlerical socialistic tendencies. when catholic social activists perceived extreme in social conflicts, church hierarchy tried stop excesses; occasions of included worker-priest movement in france in 1940s , 1950s, , liberation theology in latin america in 1960s, 1970s, , 1980s. movements supported church - in australia catholic social studies movement during 1940s , 1950s, national civic council has developed.

catholic clergy , lay activists tended support far-right leaders such francisco franco , antónio de oliveira salazar, military regimes in latin america. result, many workers involved in labor movement joined social democratic , communist parties, secular , called revolution against old values, included religion , church.

in recent times, after second world war, christian engagement in politics became weaker , demo-christian parties name lost of christianity. stronger christian involvement in europe on beginning of 21st century has produced new small parties, example joined in european christian political movement. according new york times columnist ross douthat, part of younger generation of catholics showing renewed interest in forms of political catholocism such revived catholic integralism or tradinista! socialism.