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Catholics and Political Violence in the Twentieth Century presents a historical reconstruction of the ways in which Catholics have justified the recourse to political violence during the twentieth century, a period marked by major wars, nationalisms, decolonization, ideological clashes, and episodes of genocide. Legitimation processes are particularly complex when this violence is not endorsed by the state, and perhaps used against it. Depending on perspective, the protagonists of this radical form of collective action may be seen as 'terrorists' or 'freedom fighters'.
Written by a leading historian of contemporary Catholicism, this book examines a series of case studies from different parts of the world, selected because of the central role played by the Catholic religion. They range from Northern Ireland to the Basque Country, from the Philippines to Colombia, and from Mexico to Rwanda. It highlights how theological sources, paradigms of martyrdom, and symbols of the Christian tradition have provided a catalogue of reasons to give moral value to violence and promote it in the name of God.
By looking at the history of Catholicism in global terms and adopting a transnational perspective, Catholics and Political Violence in the Twentieth Century sheds a critical light on the themes that are crucial to understanding the relationship between religion and violence. It will appeal to scholars and students working and studying in the fields of Modern and Contemporary History, Religious Studies, Terrorism Studies, Cultural and Global Studies, Intellectual History, and the History of Political Thought.
List of contents
Introduction
1. The mystique of sacrifice and political violence
Passion and resurrection in Ireland
Doctrine, public opinion, and politics
A war waged by saints
Squadrismo, violence, and obedience
2. Tradition and rebellion in Mexico
Against the secular state
Hard-line rebels
'Cristeros'
In defence of the faith
3. Sacralized insurrection
Crusade and terror in Spain
A universal struggle in a national battleground
The Church in combat
El derecho a la rebeldía
Holy war and the Holy Office
4. Revolution and incitement to hatred: the deliberations of Rome during total war
The battle between devils
The truly Catholic war
The heresy of hatred
5. Holy war during the Cold War
Not revolution, but war
A crusade to save Hungary?
Global mobilization
Discrimination and disadvantage
6. Latin America and revolution as an obligation
Armed charity from sociology to guerrilla warfare
Transatlantic circulation of ideas
Theology and revolution
Violence by the peace-lovers and the mystique of guerrilla warfare
From liberation to human rights
7. Words and deeds
The increasing disconnection
A Catholic element in the origins of the Red Brigades?
Division and infiltration
The beginning of the end
The 'Sands bomb'
8. Rwanda: colonialism and its legacy
A 'Catholic country' in central Africa
The Church during the revolution
Construction of 'the enemy within'
Complicity and silence
9. The end of the revolution?
Rosaries, not bullets: the Aquino 'miracl' in the Philippines
Lights in the East and the 'morality of means'
Ambivalende and the peace process in the Basque Country
Democracy and policies of terror: Peru's tragic twenty years
Armed for life: anti-abortion attacks in the United States
Conclusions
About the author
Lucia Ceci is Professor of Contemporary History at the Tor Vergata University of Rome. Her research interests include the relationships between Catholicism, politics, and ideologies in the twentieth century. As well as writing five books on these themes, including The Vatican and Mussolini's Italy (2016), whose original Italian edition (2013) won the Friuli History Award, she has edited eight others, and published numerous articles.
Summary
Written by a leading historian of contemporary Catholicism, this book examines a series of case studies from different parts of the world, selected because of the central role played by the Catholic religion.
