Catholic Church and Social Change in Nicaragua

Manzar Foroohar is Professor of History at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

"(This work) provides an historical depth long lacking in the important discussions of the Church-State relations on Nicaragua since 1979. This book reveals the complexity of the issues...and I applaud the author's global vision of her subject. I felt that new insights and understandings rewarded my reading." — E. Bradford Burns, UCLA"It is the first extensive, thoroughly-researched, comprehensive study in English of the role of the Church in the Nicaraguan revolution. Dr. Foroohar's is a balanced and sympathetic treatment, respectful of the persons and ideas involved in the process. To me, as a student of recent Central American history, it has been fascinating. The present foreign policy of the United States towards Central America can be understood...as a desperate response to precisely the phenomenon which this book examines. It appears (the author) understands both the necessity of revolution and the centrality of religion in human experience...quite rare in writers on the Central American imbroglio." — David Sweet, University of California at Santa Cruz

• Introduction 1. The Catholic Church in Nicaragua Historical Background The Nicaraguan Catholic Church and the Independence Movement Conservative-Liberal Conflict and Foreign Intervention Expulsion of Jesuits Political Development and the Church Zelaya and the United States North American Direct Intervention The Church and the North American Intervention Sandino's Struggle The Catholic Church and Sandino The Liberal Government The Catholic Church and Liberal Governments 2. Economic Formation and Sociopolitical Conflict Agriculture Industrial System Sociopolitical Conflict Political Opposition 3. The Response of Latin American Catholics to Socioeconomic Problems Liberation Theology The Church and Politics Catholicism and Class Struggle The Latin American Church and Class Struggle The Catholic Church and Socialism Conclusion 4. Implementation of Liberation Theology in Nicaragua, 1968–72 A Conservative Hierarchy Radical Clergy First National Pastoral Meeting Public Expression of New Ideas New Leadership in the Catholic Church 5. The 1972 Earthquake and the Aftermath Growing Political Opposition The Catholic Church and the Opposition Unión Democrática de Liberación (UDEL) Dissident Liberals The Social Christian Party The Conservative Opposition The Socialists Workers' Unions UDEL's Program 6. The FSLN and the Progressive Church Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional The Student Movement and the FSLN The Political Opposition and the Reforms of the 1960s FSLN and the Catholic Church Military and Political Work The FSLN in the 1970s Radicalization of the Christian Base Communities in Managua The Process of Radicalization in Barrio Riguero, 1972–77 The Process of Radicalization in Barrio OPEN 3, 1972–77 Radicalization in San Pablo Parish Rural Population and the Catholic Church The Capuchin Fathers in Zelaya Repression in Zelaya Repression in Other Rural Communities Transformation of the Peasantry and the Rural Church Public Condemnation of the Repression 7. Intensification of the Political Conflict and Clarification of the Sociopolitical Alliance The October Offensive, National Dialogue, and the Role of the Church The Assassination of Pedro Joaquin Chamorro and the General Strike Collapse of the Bourgeois Leadership The FSLN and the Bourgeoisie The Last Attempt to Stop the Revolution: the United States, the Nicaraguan Bourgeoisie, and the Catholic Hierarchy Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index