The Catholic Church and Democracy in Chile and Peru

The Latin American Church accounts for a substantial percentage of the world Catholic population and plays a major role in the social and political arena. However recent changes by the Vatican have reimposed a more hierarchical control. This text aims to determine the effect of this retrenching.

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Recent changes imposed by the Vatican may redefine the Chilean and Peruvian Church's involvement in politics and social issues. Fleet and Smith argue that the Vatican has been moving to restrict the Chilean and Peruvian Church's social and political activities. Fleet and Smith have gathered documentary evidence, conducted interviews with Catholic elites, and compiled surveys of lay Catholics in the region. The result will help chart the future of the Church and Chile and Peru.