life in fascist italy mussolini and the roman catholic church

Life in Fascist ItalyMussolini and the Roman Catholic

Church

By Bridget O’Hara, Anna Lodge, Evelyn Bravo, Jorah Smith, andMaddie Hammerschmidt

Who was Mussolini???● He was an Italian politician● Journalist and leader of the Fascist Party● He ruled the country as Prime Minister

○ Dropped everything about democracy and set up a legal dictatorship.

Young Mussolini and the Church● Was raised to dislike Church● Mussolini Sr. was a committed Socialist, and he disliked

the power of the Church● Young Mussolini referred to Priests as “Black Germs”

● Once he reached power in 1922, he changed his views● Realized that the pope “represents 400 million men

scattered the world over”● Recognized that this is a huge power

Young Mussolini and the Church cont.

Winning over the Church● Needed to win over Church to improve his view in the Public’s eyes● Had his children baptized in 1923.● Had a religious marriage ceremony with his common-law wife Rachele in

1926● Closed down many wine shops and night clubs● Swearing in public was made a crime

● Pushed ideas of the Church○ Women should stay home while men worked○ Disapproved of contraception○ Wanted to ban divorce

● Trying to bring credibility to his government

Winning over the Church cont.

Lateran Treaty● Created in 1929● It was between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See● It was a concordat regulating relations between the

Catholic Church and the Italian state● Signed February 11, 1929

○ Ratified by Italian parliament June 7, 1929

Lateran Treaty cont.

• Papal States lost land in 1879 during unification

• Church received £30 million in compensation (1929)

• 109 acres in rome as new papal state~ The Vatican

• Allowed small army, police force, post office, and rail station

• 1929- mussolini’s popularity was at its highest

• Mussolini and the Roman Catholic Church were to quarrel fought in 1930’s

• Quickly made up

• Pope sent letter protesting Charter of Race

Concordat

● Another part of the treaty● Roman Catholic Church became state religion● Pope appointed bishops, but they had to receive the

Government’s approval● Religion had to be taught in primary and secondary

school● Church was given full control of Marriage

Charter of Race● July 1938● Took away the Jews right of Italian nationality● No longer allowed to:

○ Teach○ Have state jobs○ Be members of the Fascist party○ Work a bank or insurance company○ Marry non-jewish italians○ Join the army

● Laws were so unpopular the Pope sent a disapproving letter to Mussolini about what was happening

Work Cited Charter of Race (http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/hol/cou/ita/hi-race.html)

Mussolini and the Roman Catholic Church article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benito_Mussolini