Joshua Bennett
Chile has traditionally been a Catholic country, with almost 90% of the population being at least nominally Catholic today. In 1941, Padre Alberto Hurtado, a Chilean Jesuit priest, lawyer, social worker, and writer, authored a book titled Is Chile a Catholic Country?. In the book, Hurtado published the results of a 1939 survey of Chilean religious practices, reporting that only 9% of Chilean women and 3.5% of Chilean men regularly attended Mass. He also highlighted the shortage of priests in Chile, with almost half of the clergy being foreigners. Despite some criticism from conservative Catholics, Hurtado was deeply spiritual and dedicated to helping the workers and the youth. He founded the Hogar de Cristo (Home of Christ) in 1944 and was canonized in 2005, becoming Chile's second saint.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of publishing the book "Is Chile a Catholic Country?" | 1941 |
| Author of the book "Is Chile a Catholic Country?" | Padre Alberto Hurtado |
| Profession of Padre Alberto Hurtado | Jesuit priest, lawyer, social worker, and writer |
| Year of founding the Hogar de Cristo | 1944 |
| Year of founding the periodical Mensaje | 1951 |
| Year of death of Padre Alberto Hurtado | 1952 |
| Year of beatification of Padre Alberto Hurtado | 1994 |
| Year of canonization of Padre Alberto Hurtado | 2005 |
| Percentage of Chilean women who regularly attended Mass (as per a 1939 survey) | 9% |
| Percentage of Chilean men who regularly attended Mass (as per a 1939 survey) | 3.5% |
| Percentage of Chile's population that is Catholic | 72% or 74% or 88% |
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What You'll Learn
Padre Hurtado's survey results
Padre Hurtado, born Luis Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga, was a Chilean Jesuit priest, lawyer, social worker, and writer of Basque ancestry. He authored the book "Is Chile a Catholic Country?" in 1941, in which he published the results of a 1939 survey of Chilean religious practices.
The survey results indicated that only 9% of Chilean women and 3.5% of Chilean men regularly attended Mass. This was despite the fact that Chile has traditionally been a Catholic country, with almost 90% of the population being at least nominally Catholic. The book also highlighted a lack of priests assigned to the working class and rural populations, with some parishes having one priest assigned to 10,000 laypeople across large geographic areas.
Hurtado's survey results sparked criticism from more conservative Catholics, who accused him of being a Communist. However, he was deeply spiritual and dedicated to his work for the workers and the youth. He founded the Hogar de Cristo (Home of Christ) in 1944 and a national review entitled "Mensaje". He was beatified in 1994 and canonized in 2005, becoming Chile's second saint.
Chile continues to have a significant Catholic presence, with 72-74% of its population identifying as Catholic in recent years. However, the country also appears quite secular at times, and the Church's influence has been diminishing due to various factors, including revelations of clergy sexual abuse.
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![The Law of Chile as to the Marriage of Non-Catholics : to Which Is Added a Summary of the Regulations Providing for the Suitable Interment of Non-Catholics, and the 1880 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/617DLHXyzlL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Chile's secularism
Chile has traditionally been a Catholic country, with almost 90% of the population being at least nominally Catholic today. However, the country has also been described as secular, with a complex relationship between the Catholic Church and the Chilean state. Church and state were officially separated in 1925, but the Catholic Church has continued to play an interesting part in Chilean politics and society.
The Catholic Church in Chile is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and the curia in Rome. The Church is composed of 5 archdioceses, 18 dioceses, 2 territorial prelatures, 1 apostolic vicariate, 1 military ordinariate, and a personal prelature (Opus Dei). The organization of the Church in Chile allows the Bishops to jointly exercise certain pastoral functions in a collegial manner. They usually meet at Assemblies to discuss issues related to the development of the Catholic Church in Chile and express their opinions through public documents or letters.
The Catholic Church has had a complex and sometimes strained relationship with the Chilean state, particularly during the latter half of the 20th century. During the Socialist presidency of Salvador Allende, relations were complicated as the majority of Catholic hierarchs in Chile were either ideologically opposed to Allende or cautious of open clerical involvement in politics. However, a minority of priests and followers, known as "The 80", supported the government and advocated for Catholics to participate in Allende's socialist program. They formed the organization "Christians for Socialism".
The Catholic Church in Chile has also been involved in human rights activism and provided support for the democracy movement during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The Church's social support and influence provided protection for human rights organizations and encouraged their work. However, the regime repressed Church figures who were too vocal in their opposition, and by 1975, more than 300 Catholic priests had been expelled from the country. Despite the Church's criticisms, Pinochet enjoyed the support of a large proportion of Catholics, indicating a decline in the power and influence of the Church.
In recent years, the influence of the Catholic Church in Chile has continued to wane due to various factors. Revelations of clergy sexual abuse have undermined the Church's credibility, and the country's stance on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage has shifted towards a more secular outlook. According to a 2015 Pew Research Center report, the percentage of Chileans who consider religion very important in their lives has decreased from 46% in 2007 to 27% in 2015. Additionally, a 2017 survey by Plaza Publica Cadem found that 56% of Chileans disapprove of the performance of the Catholic Church in the country.
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Catholic Church's human rights activism
The Catholic Church has been actively involved in human rights activism, with its teachings and efforts closely connected to the proclamation of the Gospel. The Church affirms the inherent dignity of every person, made in the image of God, as the foundation of human rights. This belief has led to the Church's vigorous defence of fundamental human rights, including the right to life, liberty, freedom from torture and slavery, freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to work, education, and adequate social security.
One notable figure in the history of the Catholic Church in Chile is Padre Alberto Hurtado, a Jesuit priest, lawyer, social worker, and writer. Padre Hurtado is known for his advocacy for the marginalised and his founding of the Hogar de Cristo (Home of Christ) in 1944, which provided shelter and support to thousands of children and families. He also authored the book "Is Chile a Catholic Country?" in 1941, where he published the results of a 1939 survey on Chilean religious practices, highlighting the lack of priests serving the working class and rural populations.
The Catholic Church's commitment to human rights is reflected in its support for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by the United Nations in 1948. Pope St. John Paul II played a significant role in deepening and developing a distinctively Catholic approach to human rights, and his successors have continued to emphasise the Church's role in promoting and protecting these rights. In his address to the United Nations in 1979, Pope St. John Paul II hailed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as "a true milestone on the path of humanity's moral progress."
The Church's human rights activism extends beyond words to practical actions. For example, the Society of Jesus urges Jesuits to actively recognise and respect the rights of all, working to secure these rights for everyone. Additionally, the Church has acknowledged the interconnectedness between civil and political rights and economic rights, recognising the challenges posed by economic imbalances that limit political freedom.
Overall, the Catholic Church's human rights activism is rooted in its theological understanding of human dignity and the image of God in each person. Through the work of individuals like Padre Hurtado and the institutional efforts of the Church, the Catholic tradition has made significant contributions to the global discourse and advancement of human rights.
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Church-state relations
Chile has traditionally been a Catholic country, and almost 90% of the population continues to be at least nominally Catholic today. Church and state were officially separated in 1925, but religion has played a significant role in shaping the policies and decisions of the Chilean government. The Catholic Church in Chile is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and the curia in Rome. The Church is composed of 5 archdioceses, 18 dioceses, 2 territorial prelatures, 1 apostolic vicariate, 1 military ordinariate, and a personal prelature (Opus Dei).
The relationship between the Catholic Church and the Chilean state has been complex, particularly during the 20th century. During the Socialist presidency of Salvador Allende, relations between the Church and the state were strained. While Allende and the state refrained from attacking the Church, most Catholic hierarchs in Chile were ideologically opposed to Allende's socialist program or cautious of open clerical involvement in politics. However, a minority of priests and followers, particularly those influenced by liberation theology, supported the government.
The Catholic Church played an active role in opposing the government during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The Church's human rights activism and social support provided protection for democracy activists and encouraged other human rights organizations to emerge. Cardinal Silva, for example, made his opposition to the regime known and suffered various repercussions as a result. By 1975, more than 300 Catholic priests had been expelled from the country. Despite the Church's efforts, Pinochet remained popular, even among Catholics, indicating a complex dynamic between the Church and the Chilean people.
In recent years, the Catholic Church's influence in Chile has declined due to various factors. Revelations of clergy sexual abuse have undermined the Church's credibility, and the Church's inability to directly influence state policy during the Pinochet regime highlighted its limited power. Additionally, the percentage of Chileans who consider religion important in their lives has decreased over time.
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Catholic influence on Chilean politics
Chile has traditionally been a Catholic country, with almost 90% of the population continuing to be at least nominally Catholic today. Church and state were officially separated in 1925, but religion has helped shape the policies and decisions of the government. The Catholic Church in Chile is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, the curia in Rome, and the Episcopal Conference of Chile. The Catholic Church is currently one of the largest organizations in the country and is the principal provider of education and healthcare. It runs six Catholic universities in the country.
The Church has had a complex relationship with the Chilean state, particularly during the latter half of the 20th century, with the government of Salvador Allende and the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The influence of liberation theology and political ideologies also contributed to internal disagreements and changing Church attitudes. Relations between Church and state were strained under both Salvador Allende and Augusto Pinochet. During the Socialist presidency of Salvador Allende, the majority of Catholic hierarchs in Chile were either ideologically opposed to Allende or cautious of open clerical involvement in politics. However, a vocal minority of priests, followers, and participants of liberation theology supported the government. On April 16, 1971, a group of these priests, "The 80", released a declaration advocating for Catholics to actively participate in Allende's cause and the socialist program.
During the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, the Catholic Church played an interesting part in Chilean politics and society. The Church's human rights activism greatly helped the opposition to the government and provided invaluable support for the democracy movement. The social and historic prestige of the country’s dominant religious body, combined with its clear support of the victims of the government, both encouraged and protected other human rights organizations. The Church’s powerful social support provided it with a level of protection not accorded to political enemies of the state, but the regime tried nonetheless to repress Church figures who were too vocally anti-Pinochet. Cardinal Silva made his opposition to the regime known on several occasions and suffered accusations of fraud, limited access to media, and harsh criticism as a result. By 1975, more than 300 Catholic priests had been thrown out of the country.
The Church has continued to champion human rights issues related to the dictatorship since the return to democracy, and although the country remains largely conservative, recent political events indicate a decline in the power of the Church. In recent years, revelations of clergy sexual abuse have radically undermined the Church's credibility, and the church's influence on the ground is seriously diminished.
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Frequently asked questions
Luis Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga, popularly known as Padre Hurtado, was a Chilean Jesuit priest, lawyer, social worker, and writer of Basque ancestry.
Padre Hurtado founded the Hogar de Cristo (Home of Christ) in 1944 and the national review "Mensaje". He also authored the book "Is Chile a Catholic Country?" in 1941, which reported on the shortage of priests in Chile and the lack of attendance at Mass.
The book was heavily criticized by conservative Catholics, who accused Padre Hurtado of being a Communist. Despite this, he continued his work as an advocate for the marginalized and played an active role in shaping Chilean politics and society.
Padre Hurtado was beatified in 1994 and canonized in 2005, becoming Chile's second saint. He is remembered for his deep spirituality and his tireless work for the workers and the youth, bringing many people to the Catholic Church.
Chile has traditionally been a Catholic country, and a significant percentage of the population remains Catholic today. However, the country has become more secular in recent years, and the influence of the Catholic Church has declined due to various factors, including revelations of clergy sexual abuse.
