Catholicism and Democracy: An Essay in the History of Political Thought

Catholicism and Democracy explores how the Catholic Church responded to liberal democracy, initially embracing ultramontanism but later adopting the autonomy of the state from the church to protect freedom of religion.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 02 May 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Catholicism and Democracy is a comprehensive exploration of Catholic political thought from the French Revolution to the present day. Emile Perreau-Saussine delves into the church's response to liberal democracy, a political system that the church found itself unprepared for. By examining the ideas of influential philosophers and political theologians such as Joseph de Maistre, Alexis de Tocqueville, and Charles Péguy, Perreau-Saussine reveals how the church redefined its relationship with the state in the aftermath of the French Revolution.

Disenfranchised by the fall of the monarchy, the church in France initially embraced ultramontanism, an ideology emphasizing the central role of the papacy. This shift led Catholics who had lost their national status to seek spiritual authority from the papacy. However, as Perreau-Saussine argues, this paradoxical move simultaneously rejected the liberal political order while implicitly acknowledging one of its fundamental principles: the autonomy of the church from the state.

In the context of twentieth-century totalitarianism, the Catholic Church reverted to elements of its Gallican heritage and embraced another liberal principle: the autonomy of the state from the church. This was done in pursuit of the corollary principle of freedom of religion. Perreau-Saussine concludes that Catholics have come to terms with liberal democracy, though they remain concerned about the potential compromises that the system may entail in the pursuit of other goals.

This book offers valuable insights into the complex and evolving relationship between Catholicism and democracy, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities that the two systems have faced throughout history. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of religion and politics, as well as in the history of Catholicism in particular.

Weight: 336g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691248165