Relations between Church and State in Portugal in the Transition to Democracy

Abstract

The transition to democracy in Portugal (1974–75) posed, amongst other matters, the problem of constructing a new model for relationships between the state and the Catholic Church. The objective of this article is to analyse the construction of the relationship in that historic period, which examines, in particular, on one hand the attitudes of the provisional governments and some military sectors, and the Portuguese episcopacy on the other. It also attempts to examine the importance of those relationships in the configuration of the democratic model that was being established in Portugal. It focuses on the initial points of conflict between the political and ecclesiastic authorities, with particular reference to the events involving the Catholic radio station that became known as the Radio Renascena case.