Concordat of 1851
Encyclopedia
The Concordat of 1851 was an concordat
between the Spanish government
of Queen Isabella II
and the Vatican
. Although the concordat was signed on March 16, 1851, its terms were not implemented until 1855. The concordat remained in effect until it was repudiated by the Second Spanish Republic
in 1931. Ten years later, the first three articles were reinstated by Generalissimo Francisco Franco
's 1941 Convention with the Vatican. Eventually, a new concordat
was signed in 1953.
The concordat changed the boundaries of dioceses, regulated the affairs of territories dependent on military orders, ecclesiastical jurisdiction, chapters, benefices. The right of presentation to certain of the latter was reserved to the pope
; others were left to the queen
.
s, "whose duty it is to watch over the education of youth in regard to morals and faith," would meet no obstacle in the performance of that duty.
under them, were to enjoy the same rights in all else that regards their functions, especially in what concerns the sacred office of ordination. The government agreed to assure the respect due them, and lend its aid, "notably in preventing the publication, introduction or circulation of immoral and harmful books."
Religious orders of men or women, who to contemplation add some work of charity or public utility, as education, care of the sick, missions, etc., were retained or re-established. The Spanish government agreed to pay the salaries of bishops, priests. In addition, it agreed to provide an income to churches and seminaries.
was recognized. As to property of which it had been previously despoiled, whatever property had not been alienated was to be restored; but whatever the state had taken may be sold, and the price invested in government bonds, for the benefit of the rightful owner. The Holy See renounced its right to property already alienated. With regard to unforeseen points, the concordat referenced the canons and the discipline of the Catholic Church.
Concordat
A concordat is an agreement between the Holy See of the Catholic Church and a sovereign state on religious matters. Legally, they are international treaties. They often includes both recognition and privileges for the Catholic Church in a particular country...
between the Spanish government
Spanish Government
Spain is a constitutional monarchy whose government is defined by the Constitution of Spain. This was approved by a general referendum of the people of Spain in 1978...
of Queen Isabella II
Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of...
and the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. Although the concordat was signed on March 16, 1851, its terms were not implemented until 1855. The concordat remained in effect until it was repudiated by the Second Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
in 1931. Ten years later, the first three articles were reinstated by Generalissimo Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's 1941 Convention with the Vatican. Eventually, a new concordat
Concordat of 1953
The Concordat of 1953 was the last classic concordat of the Roman Catholic Church. Concluded by Spain with the Vatican, and together with the Pact of Madrid, signed the same year, it was a significant effort to break Spain's international isolation after World War II .In return for the granting...
was signed in 1953.
Terms
According to the terms of this Concordat, the Roman Catholic religion was to continue, to the exclusion of every other, to be the only religion of the Spanish nation, and was to be maintained, so far as his Catholic majesty has the power, "in all the rights and prerogatives which it should enjoy according to the law of God and canonical sanction."The concordat changed the boundaries of dioceses, regulated the affairs of territories dependent on military orders, ecclesiastical jurisdiction, chapters, benefices. The right of presentation to certain of the latter was reserved to the pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
; others were left to the queen
Queen regnant
A queen regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, in contrast to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king. An empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right over an empire....
.
Education
Education in all the colleges, universities. etc. was mandated to conform to Catholic doctrine, and it was promised that the bishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s, "whose duty it is to watch over the education of youth in regard to morals and faith," would meet no obstacle in the performance of that duty.
Rights of clergy and religious orders
The bishops, and the clergyClergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
under them, were to enjoy the same rights in all else that regards their functions, especially in what concerns the sacred office of ordination. The government agreed to assure the respect due them, and lend its aid, "notably in preventing the publication, introduction or circulation of immoral and harmful books."
Religious orders of men or women, who to contemplation add some work of charity or public utility, as education, care of the sick, missions, etc., were retained or re-established. The Spanish government agreed to pay the salaries of bishops, priests. In addition, it agreed to provide an income to churches and seminaries.
Church property
The right of the church to own and acquire new propertyProperty
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
was recognized. As to property of which it had been previously despoiled, whatever property had not been alienated was to be restored; but whatever the state had taken may be sold, and the price invested in government bonds, for the benefit of the rightful owner. The Holy See renounced its right to property already alienated. With regard to unforeseen points, the concordat referenced the canons and the discipline of the Catholic Church.
Sources
- “Concordat”, by Gaston De Bourge [a French lawyer and critic of secularism], Dictionnaire de l’économie politique, 1852, translated and reprinted in Lalor, John J., ed, Cyclopædia of Political Science, Political Economy, and the Political History of the United States by the Best American and European Writers, (New York: Maynard, Merrill, and Co., 1899. First published: 1881.) http://www.econlib.org/library/YPDBooks/Lalor/llCy263.html