The Established Church as an Agent of Change

Abstract

The revolutionary potential of sectarian religion and a common anti-organizational bias result in the common assumption that by definition an established church does not serve as a change agent in its society. This assumption is challenged and a model is set forth which states conditions under which a national established church which is a sub-unit of an international religion can assume the role of agent of change. The results of a case-study of Roman Catholicism in Paraguay lend support to the model. It is shown that Catholicism in Paraguay is in a position of power, and that its present radical stance is due largely to its acceptance of new theology from its Roman parent. The critical and innovative role of Paraguayan Catholicism is regarded as a rational response of the organization of Catholicism to the Paraguayan environment. The limits of its change-agent role are discussed. The research, based on a variety of field methods, was done in May-July, 1972.