Catholic power in the Netherlands / Herman Bakvis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bakvis, Herman.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Katholieke Volkspartij (Netherlands)--History.

Katholieke Volkspartij (Netherlands).

Catholics--Netherlands--Political activity--History--20th century.

Catholics.

Netherlands--Politics and government--1945-.

Netherlands.

Physical Description:

xiii, 240 p. : map ; 23 cm.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Kingston [Ont.] : McGill-Queen's University Press, 1981.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book examines the role of the Dutch Catholic church, and especially of the bishops, in ensuring the solidarity of the Catholic subculture for so many years and, more remarkably, in promoting drastic social and political changes after Vatican II. This development transformed one of the most orthodox churches in Western Europe into the most radical and, as Professor Bakvis demonstrates, led to the decline and fall of the largest political party in the Netherlands. The author also discusses the recent formulation of the Christian Democratic party and the impact of John Paul II's pontificate. He has drawn upon interviews with priests and politicians, as well as survey and ecological data, in his portrayal of life inside the Catholic subculture at both the grass-roots and the elite levels. The result is a substantial contribution to our understanding of the interaction of religion and politics in a plural society and the sources of party loyalty and subcultural cohesion.

Contents:

Front Matter

Contents

Tables and Figures

Preface

Introduction

The Dutch Catholic Community: Ethnicity, Ideology, Organization, and Clientele

Dutch Catholic Politics

The Theological Revolt and Changes in the Catholic Community

The Catholic Party: Decline and Fall, 1963-1980

Conclusion: Political Change and the Future of Catholic Power

Appendix I

Appendix II

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes index.

Includes bibliography and index.

ISBN:

0-7735-6077-7

OCLC:

1380731885