Rethinking the social role of the Catholic Church of Cuba during the Republican period, 1902-1959

Authors

Leonardo Falcon, Florida International University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Major/Program

Latin American and Caribbean Studies

First Advisor's Name

Carlos M. Alvarez

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Sherry M. Johnson

Third Advisor's Name

Lisandro O. Perez

Fourth Advisor's Name

Uva De Aragon

Date of Defense

6-19-2002

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the Catholic Church influenced and interacted with Cuban society during the Republic. Specific attention was paid to the question posed by a Cuban scholar if the Catholic Church in Cuba was also the Church of Cuba. The Church's Cubanization efforts were studied through its missionary work, its role as provider of social services, and its capacity to promote sociopolitical changes in the island.

The results showed a Church increasingly working to become a Cuban institution, without losing its catholicity. It was devoted to affecting Cuban society positively through education and healthcare, as well as through its concern for the well-being of the rapidly emerging working class. The interaction of the Church with the workers, and the role of some laypersons and religious personnel culminated in the development of some projects that influenced the Cuban Constitution of 1940.

Identifier

FI15101335

Recommended Citation

Falcon, Leonardo, "Rethinking the social role of the Catholic Church of Cuba during the Republican period, 1902-1959" (2002). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3161.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3161