Photo of a Church Dome
I chose this photo of a church dome to discuss the ongoing war between the liberals and conservatives in Latin America. At the time church and state were unified; the conservatives were in favor of this and worked very hard to keep things as they were. However, the liberals were in favor of democracy and believed it was morally wrong for these institutions to be unified.
The drastic difference in opinion amongst the two parties caused for much tension in Latin America during the nineteenth century. The Church played an important role in the lives of many, however, the Church was not accepting of all lifestyles and choices. According to John Lync, “In reaction the Church sought allies where it could … Conservatives believed that without the restraint of religion, people would be turbulent and anarchic, a defense of religion on the grounds not of its truth but of its social utility.” The Liberals longed for freedom, they believed they should be able to act and use their voices as they please. While Church and state were unified, these institutions wanted control over the Latin American people. In the eyes of the conservatives, the Church had the power to decide what’s best for the people, community, and country. As many devoted religious groups, the Church believed God is word, meaning that God rules over all. The liberals had a huge issue with this because they felt the conservatives were trying to convert everyone under God, which is unfair to those who don’t follow or believe his word. The liberals had no problem with those who believed in God but did not want these beliefs forced on them by not only the Church but the law.
During this time many political and societal views stemmed from Catholicism. One example of this is the oppression of women in society. The Church represents patriarchy and women were seen as less than men. When it came to education and reading, women were limited in options because they must maintain their “honor”. Liberals believed women should have equal access to education and should be able to read any text/books as men do. The conservatives and the Church saw this as radical because they did not believe women and lower class people should have access to the same education as them. Without equal education for all, it is nearly impossible for society as a whole to develop, progress, and modernize. “In the opinion of Liberals, the expansion of public education was but one aspect of the struggle against ignorance. If it was to be truly successful, the hold of the clergy on the masses also had to be reduced” (Problems 110).
As society progresses, liberalism is inevitable. People will learn to digress from the common opinion, especially when it begins to make no sense for the wellbeing of the people. When Latin America gained independence from Spain, the people saw what can result in fighting for what you believe in. Tradition can be valued but when there is no room for growth, this movement becomes irrelevant.