Catholicism, Social Justice, and the Brazilian Corporative State since 1930

Abstract

Analyses of the Roman Catholic Church in Brazil and its in volvement with the plight of the socially disadvantaged over the past three decades are increasingly commonplace. Invariably, these studies have emphasized the extent to which the Catholic Church has transformed itself orientationally and institutionally from a defender of the status quo to an ardent supporter of the poor and the marginalized in Brazilian society. Given the dramatic tone of church statements and the devel opment of innovative programs such as the comunidades ecle siais de base (CEBs), this preoccupation with change is by no means misplaced. Nevertheless, it has tended to eclipse consid eration of the ways in which the Catholic Church, over the longer term, has stayed the same. Indeed, in many respects, the recent involvement of the Church with the cause of social and political reform appears at least to demonstrate a considerable degree of continuity with the self-concept and practice which this religious institution has historically maintained. As a partial corrective to the imbalance within the literature with respect to studies of church change, this essay examines the confluence between the past and present roles of Brazilian Ca tholicism within the context of the corporative state structure formally entrenched in Brazil during the Getulio Vargas dicta torship (1930-45), and informally maintained thereafter. The examination concludes that while the Catholic Church may