Start Date
April 2024
Location
2nd floor - Library
Abstract
In the 20th century, Germany restructured and had many forms of governmental systems. With rapid restructuring and widespread international conflict, there was a strained relationship between these governments and the religious organizations found within Germany. This paper explores the relationship between the German government(s), and one of those religious organizations, the Roman Catholic Church. Through a within-case analysis, this paper examines Catholic doctrine and Catholic action in the 20th Century and how it relates to German laws and German action. After examining both primary and secondary sources, this paper concludes that the Catholic Church acted uniquely. When the autonomy of the Church was high, there was a moderate to low amount of resistance to the German government, but when the autonomy of the Church was threatened, there was resistance from the Catholic Church. This resistance was also greatly affected by the personal beliefs of the popes and individual Church leaders at the time.
Assessing the Relationship Between the Catholic Church and Germany in the 20th Century
2nd floor - Library
In the 20th century, Germany restructured and had many forms of governmental systems. With rapid restructuring and widespread international conflict, there was a strained relationship between these governments and the religious organizations found within Germany. This paper explores the relationship between the German government(s), and one of those religious organizations, the Roman Catholic Church. Through a within-case analysis, this paper examines Catholic doctrine and Catholic action in the 20th Century and how it relates to German laws and German action. After examining both primary and secondary sources, this paper concludes that the Catholic Church acted uniquely. When the autonomy of the Church was high, there was a moderate to low amount of resistance to the German government, but when the autonomy of the Church was threatened, there was resistance from the Catholic Church. This resistance was also greatly affected by the personal beliefs of the popes and individual Church leaders at the time.
