- 17 Oct 2016 12:38
#14727173
Anti-Clericalism is not anti-Christianity.
Many Fascists were anti-clerical not anti-Christian (IE: 80% of SS members were Roman Catholic).
The reason for anti-clericalism is obvious. The Fascist places the state above all else, in order to directly liaise with the people and best serve them. The Vatican before secularization, for instance in Germany, was a state within the German state. Same in Italy. Look up "Kulturkampf". That means the German Catholics had 2 masters and 2 loyalties: Roman Catholic hierarchy and the German state. The Vatican could effectively tell German (catholics) who to vote for, to refuse enlistment in war, whatever they didnt agree with. And they did, in Germany the Vatican had its own political party (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_Party_(Germany)).
By the way this anti-clericalism was not only Fascism. For instance in France, the French revolution had similar feelings. Even the Kings of France, or England, and so on previously always wrestled with the Vatican for control of their subjects.
Many Fascists were anti-clerical not anti-Christian (IE: 80% of SS members were Roman Catholic).
The reason for anti-clericalism is obvious. The Fascist places the state above all else, in order to directly liaise with the people and best serve them. The Vatican before secularization, for instance in Germany, was a state within the German state. Same in Italy. Look up "Kulturkampf". That means the German Catholics had 2 masters and 2 loyalties: Roman Catholic hierarchy and the German state. The Vatican could effectively tell German (catholics) who to vote for, to refuse enlistment in war, whatever they didnt agree with. And they did, in Germany the Vatican had its own political party (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_Party_(Germany)).
By the way this anti-clericalism was not only Fascism. For instance in France, the French revolution had similar feelings. Even the Kings of France, or England, and so on previously always wrestled with the Vatican for control of their subjects.