José M. Sánchez

The Papacy in the Modern World: A Political History by Frank J. Coppa (review)

This is a selective history of the papacy from the pontificate of Pius VI before the beginning of the French Revolution to the resignation of Benedict XVI in 2013. Despite the subtitle, it is not only a political history, for “it explores the development and transformation of the papacy not only in the religious realm, but also in the political and diplomatic world, as well as the social arena” (p. 25). Frank J. Coppa discusses each of the popes, highlighting the major controversies and accomplishments of their pontificates. Naturally, in such a short work, much has to be left out.

Les Papes, Hitler, et la Shoah, 1932-1945 (review)

Hans Kreidler (1988), Robert Krieg (1992), and Karl-Heinz Wiesemann (2000) in her review of the theologian’s correspondence and in her discussion of his work from the perspective of recent studies in theological inculturation, for example, by Michael Bongardt, Robert Schreiter, Roland Spliesgart, Hans Kessler, and Otmar Fuchs. She appropriately cites Kevin Spicer’s valuable doctoral dissertation “Choosing Between God and Satan” (Boston College, 2000) concerning Berlin’s Catholic clergy under Hitler. However, she does not refer to the two-volume Der Rheinische Reformkreis (2001), edited by Hubert Wolf and Klaus Arnold, which includes Adam’s correspondence with German Catholics who looked for ways in which they could use the national movement to bring about changes in the Church.This correspondence shows that Adam’s primary loyalty was to the Church; although he tried to find points of contact between the Church and some of Hitler’s ideas, he was not a National Socialist.

Política, cultura y sociedad en la España de Franco, 1939–1975. Tomo I: La configuración del Estado espanol, nacional y católico (1939–1947) (review)

Politica, cultura y sociedad en la Espana de Franco, 1939-1975. Tomo I: La configuration del Estado espanol, national y cat6lico (1939-1947). By Gonzalo Redondo. (Pamplona: Ediciones Universidad de Navarra. 1999. Pp. 1143.) Despite the view cultivated by popular but shallow historians, the Spanish Church and the Franco regime did not have the symbiotic relationship that they were reputed to have. Nationalcatholicism was more of a goal than a reality. This massive work, by the author of one of the most detailed histories of the Spanish Church in its relations with the Second Republic and the Civil War, details the conflicts and collaborations between the two institutions. It is the first of a projected series on the entire Franco regime; this volume covers the years from the end of the Civil War in 1939 to the promulgation of the Law of Succession in 1947,which declared Spain a monarchy and provided for the naming of a monarch as a successor to Franco. Although the Church had been weakened by the anticlerical fury of the first months of the Civil War, particularly in the loss of the thousands of clerics killed, it was still a formidable institution, and the Franco regime needed its support to project its image of Spain as a Catholic state and particularly as a bulwark for the traditionalism that was to be its hallmark. Similarly the Church needed the states support to rebuild the ruined churches and re-establish the Catholic cultural hegemony that it had before 1931. Franco wanted the privileges of the old Concordat of 1851, especially the right of presentation for clerical appointments. Pius XII was concerned about Nazi influence in Spain and was apparently fearful of another concordat with a dictator, having been burned by Pius XIs concordats with Mussolini and Hitler. A compromise was reached in 1941. Franco got some control over episcopal appointments, and the Church got back control of education and removal of the anticlerical legislation of the 1930s. But Spains three cardinals were not happy with the Franco regime. The Primate, Cardinal Isidro Goma, was afraid that the regime would fall into the hands of Falangists who supported pagan Nazi policies, especially in 1939, when German influence was great in Spain. He died in 1940, warning against the statism of the regime. Cardinal Pedro Segura so outraged Franco with his criticism of the regime that the Caudillo tried to get Pius XII to remove the controversial prelate. …

The Irish and the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39: Crusades in Conflict by Robert A. Stradling (review)

Catholicism is the essential element in Delmers life, and he is conscious of his vocation as a Catholic journalist. He opposed Belgian separation of Church and State as being detrimental to Catholic interests. The Italian question convinced him of the necessity of a second daily Catholic newspaper in Brussels which would more ardently support the Pope. The description and narration of Delmers securing financing and collaborators show him to be a determined and persevering man of principle. His seeking the active approbation of the Belgian bishops and papal nuncio reveals the close connection between the press and the Belgian hierarchy.