RELG 9

Religion, Rights and Canadian Catholicism

Introduction

This topic explores the complex relationship between religion, rights, and the development of Canadian Catholicism, focusing on its historical, political, and cultural dimensions. The study of Canadian Catholicism provides insight into how religious identity interacts with political structures and liberal values in Canada.

The Catholic Puzzle

Defining the Catholic Puzzle

• Catholic Puzzle: Refers to the challenge of understanding the role and influence of Catholicism in Canadian society, especially in relation to political and cultural developments.

• Vitality and Hope: Contemporary Canadian Catholicism is marked by both resilience and adaptation in a changing era.

The Catholic Question

Historical Elements in Canadian Political Culture

• Feudal Element: Louis Hartz identifies a "feudal" aspect in Canadian political culture, suggesting hierarchical and traditional structures influenced by Catholicism.

• Family Element: Seymour Martin Lipset highlights the importance of family and community in Canadian culture, often shaped by Catholic values.

• Historical Tensions: Ian MacKay discusses the tensions between the dominant liberal paradigm and the Catholic dimensions of Canadian religious culture.

Key Terms

• Feudalism: A social system based on hierarchical relationships, often associated with land ownership and traditional authority.

• Liberalism: A political philosophy emphasizing individual rights, equality, and democratic governance.

Catholicism and Liberalism

Correlation Between Religion and Political Preferences

• Voting Patterns: There is a strong historical correlation between Catholicism and voting preferences for liberal political parties in Canada.

• Puzzle for Political Scientists: The relationship between Catholic identity and liberal voting behavior remains a subject of analysis and debate.

Example

• Studies of Canadian elections, such as the 2000 federal election, show that Catholic voters have often supported liberal parties, raising questions about the intersection of faith and political ideology.

Historical Developments and Rights

Accommodation of Quebec Catholicism

• British Colonial Rule: The Articles of Capitulation (1759-60) and the Quebec Act (1774) provided religious freedom for Catholic and Protestant communities in Canada.

• Emancipation: Canadian Catholics achieved religious emancipation earlier than their counterparts in Great Britain.

Patriote Movement and Citizenship Rights

• Louis-Joseph Papineau: Leader of the Patriote party, sponsored a bill in 1831 granting full citizenship rights to Jews, ahead of other British jurisdictions.

• Protest and Rebellion: The 1837-38 movement challenged colonial rule and advocated for broader rights.

Catholic Ultramontanism

Definition and Key Features

• Ultramontanism: A movement within Catholicism during the 18th and 19th centuries emphasizing the authority of the papacy and the independence of the church from secular states.

• Key Features:

  • Supremacy of the church over the state

  • Critical stance toward modern ideologies such as liberalism, communism, and nationalism

  • Promotion of church rights and autonomy

Programme Catholique (1871)

• Adherence to Doctrine: Catholic voters were encouraged to support candidates fully aligned with Roman Catholic doctrines in religion, politics, and socio-economic matters.

• Religious Freedom: Protestants were granted the same religious freedom claimed by Catholics.

Church and State Relations

Pastoral Letter of the Quebec Bishops (1875)

• Church Independence: The church is independent and superior to the state, both instituted by God.

• Distinct Spheres: Church pursues the supreme good for humanity, while the state promotes secondary goods.

• Authority: Only popes, bishops, and priests are official representatives of the church; lay Catholics and politicians are not.

• Public Policy: The church alone judges matters touching on faith, morals, or its spiritual mission.

Catholic Liberalism

• Condemnation: Catholic liberalism is seen as a dangerous error, not respecting church authority and tolerating policies inconsistent with doctrine.

• False Liberty: The church condemns notions of progress and liberty that undermine its spiritual mission.

Religion, Rights, and Confederation

Minority Rights and Freedoms

• BNA Act (1867): Provided constitutional guarantees for religion, confessional education, and language rights.

• French Canadians: Despite being a minority, French Canadians secured rights and privileges through constitutional protections.

Clergy and Politics

Role of Church Teaching

• Common Good: Church teaching plays a privileged role in defining justice and morality.

• Political Involvement: Clergy may intervene in political questions that affect faith, morals, or church independence.

• Rights of Clergy: Priests and bishops have the right to express political opinions and guide the faithful.

Laurier on Political Liberalism

• Distinction: Wilfrid Laurier argued that Catholic Liberalism (condemned by the church) is not the same as Political Liberalism.

• Religious Freedom: Laurier defended the right of all citizens, including clergy, to participate in political life and express opinions.

Case Study: Joseph Guibord

Legal and Religious Conflict

• Guibord Case: Involved a legal battle over burial rights in a Catholic cemetery, highlighting tensions between church authority and individual rights.

Summary Table: Key Concepts in Canadian Catholicism

Concept	Definition	Historical Example
Ultramontanism	Emphasis on papal authority and church independence	Programme Catholique (1871)
Liberalism	Political philosophy of individual rights and equality	Laurier's defense of religious freedom
Minority Rights	Protection of religious and cultural minorities	BNA Act (1867)
Church-State Relations	Distinct but sometimes overlapping spheres of influence	Pastoral Letter of Quebec Bishops (1875)
Political Catholicism	Influence of Catholic values on political behavior	Catholic voting patterns in Canadian elections

Conclusion

The study of Canadian Catholicism reveals ongoing debates about the role of religion in public life, the boundaries between church and state, and the protection of minority rights. These issues remain central to understanding Canadian political culture and the evolution of religious freedoms.