When Brazilian Catholic thinker Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira reflected on events in São Paulo during his childhood at the beginning of the last century, the social habits of that time particularly attracted our attention. He spoke of the joy of family life, and his lively narrations transported our imaginations to those … Read more

Due to the vicissitudes of history, Catholics often formed societies whose existence they kept secret so that they might have some freedom of action. Those associations were always known to the competent ecclesiastical authorities. Civil officials were also informed of their activities when circumstances permitted. For example, during the seventeenth century, France’s … Read more

During the tumultuous negotiations leading to the Concordat of 1801, Napoleon systematically applied the tactics of a fear/sympathy syndrome. Sometimes he pleased the Holy See by making some concessions toward freedom of worship in France. On other occasions, he made threats and instigated Revolutionaries who intimidated the Holy See’s representatives and lukewarm … Read more