The catholic church during radical liberalism in the province of Pasto

Abstract

This article analyzes the political and ideological role played by the Catholic Church during the period of Radical Liberalism in the Province of Pasto, Nariño, Colombia; its influence on the town residents and in the thinking of people belonging both to the catholic hierarchy and civil society.

The Catholic Church, an influential member of the community, has utilized the collective imaginary to materialize its own interests in order to intervene in matters of university groups and of universities in general. In the Province of Pasto, the church has utilized sermons, encyclicals, pastorals, and even the confessional in order to adapt its identity to the cause, one that supports three major aspects: private property, rejection of liberal principles and defense of the ecclesiastical institution as a pillar of the State and a monopoly on education.