Changing of the Guard: New Relations Between Church and State in Chile

Abstract

The role of the Chilean Catholic Church as an advocate for social and political change since the late 1960s is well-known. A small and relatively poor church in comparison to those in Brazil and Argentina, Chilean clergymen, nonetheless, have been leaders in Latin America in the struggle for social justice. Defending the have-nots in Chile has placed it decidedly at the center of political controversy, especially since 1973 when the military ousted the democratically elected Socialist President, Salvador Allende. Led by Santiago Cardinal-Archbishop Raul Silva Henriquez, the Catholic Church attempted to work with the military junta, headed by Army Chief of Staff Augusto Pinochet Ugarte. Brutal acts, however, directed at the Church and other Chileans by the junta soon discouraged efforts by the bishops to participate fully in national unification, sorely required after the divisive years of the Allende administration. Accused by the military of abetting Communists, the Church became a major target of repression. And, as the junta and later President Pinochet stifled dissent, often violently, the Church became increasingly the only institution willing to challenge authoritarian rule. Until his retirement in 1983, Silva personified the Church's resistance to the dictatorship in general and Pinochet in particular. Although several bishops objected to his political stances on a number of issues, they unanimously supported him in protecting the Church's independence and defending it against attacks by the government and its proponents. Because of his strong to authoritarianism, Silva was called politically ambitious, and his most hardened critics derisively referred to him as the Red Cardinal due to his alleged cordial relationship with Allende. A committed and activist democrat, Silva was dedicated to the restoration of constitutional government in Chile, filling the void of opposition leader primarily because he was titular head of the Catholic Church, and the military succeeded in intimidating would be civilian leaders. The Church's historic place in Chile and Pinochet's reluctance to apply additional sanctions against it, fearing increased