The Catholic Church and Democracy in Chile and Peru (Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies) [Paperback]

Michael Fleet (Author), Brian H. Smith (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 379 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Notre Dame Pr; New edition edition (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0268022526
• ISBN-13: 978-0268022525
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,253,191 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thumbs up for Smith and Fleet!, January 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Catholic Church and Democracy in Chile and Peru (Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies) (Library Binding)

The authors of the book reviews the role of Catholic Church in two prominent Latin American countries: Brian Smith wrote about the church in Chile and Michael Fleet wrote about the church in Peru. They outlined the roles that the Church have played in these countries in their history and argued that over the past 30 years the Catholic church have shifted its focus from siding with the country's power elite to the poor and the disadvantaged inside the country, although this shifts came with strong opposition both from Rome and often from the leaders of the church inside the country. Smith and Fleet also reviewed future challenges for the church in these contries, ranging from future relationship of the local church with Rome, challenges from the political elite and the growing Protestant movements inside the two countries, and conflicts on social issues such as birth control, abortion, and ordination of women as priests. I think the authors have done excellent jobs in arguing their case in this book. The issues they discussed in this book is relevant not only in Chile and Peru, but also anywhere in the world in which the Catholic Church has to deal with many difficult factors such as proper relations with the state and with Rome, and challenges to its authority from other faiths. My praise go especially to Dr. Smith, Ripon College's professor of religion and one of the best professor I ever had in Ripon College. He does not afraid to speak his mind and his thoughts in the book are always provocative but interesting, just like what he always does in his lectures. Dr Smith really does his own way in interpreting the Church's teachings, although he remains totally committed to the basic ideas of Catholic faith.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Catholic Church formed the ethos of Latin America, July 15, 2005

By 

Allan M. Gathercoal "fdoamerica" (Norcross, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Catholic Church and Democracy in Chile and Peru (Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies) (Library Binding)

In this text the historical analysis of Catholicism shows the Church's lasting effect in Latin America. Fleet & Smith, describe how the Catholic Church, at various levels, continues to influence the political and social structure of both Peru and Chile. They reveal how the Catholic Church was, and still is involved in contemporary politic. The Roman Catholic Church remains a force in Latin America and it would be improvident to discount the force that its voice has.

Fleet and Smith also briefly addresses the history of `Liberation Theology' (a theology that reads Scripture through the suffering eyes of the poor, portrays Jesus Christ as liberator and calls for social action). Their treatment is cursory and the text begs for a more thorough discussion on this topic. The activists that were once inspired by liberation theology have been quelled by the late Pope John Paul II. The `radical' liberation priests have been moved to remote locations, and, as Fleet and Smith noted, `Liberal seminaries have been closed'. Yet, this text shows that though the rhetoric has been toned down, and though `liberation theology' has faded from the screen, the Church continues to play a progressive, howbeit, a more spiritual role, in most of Latin America.

This is a work of depth and insight. The general reader may find the text thick with social science jargon, and the academic arguments may be challenging at times, but, for anyone interested in the Catholic Church in Peru and/or Chile, and for those that are students of Church-state relationships in Latin America this book is Strongly Recommended.