Chapter One. Conflict And Ultramontanism In Colonial Catholic Australia

Abstract

The nineteenth century witnessed unparalleled Christian missionary activity on a global scale, closely associated with European colonial expansion. The nineteenth century was the era of the emergence and triumph of ultramontanism, the mentality of exalting the role and person of the Pope within the Church and looking Romeward for inspiration and leadership. Protagonists of ultramontanism agitated for the standardization of liturgy, theology, law and discipline along Roman lines throughout the Catholic world. As the growing authority of the papal monarchy was celebrated and extolled, the favour of Rome was treated as a desperately sought-after glittering prize, absolutely essential if any approach or strategy for the Australian missions were to be adopted and victory in any struggle for power or dominance were to be gained. It is precisely at this point that conflict and ultramontanism in the Australian Catholic Church intersected.Keywords:Australian Catholic Church; Christian missionary activity; conflict; ultramontanism