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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

church and state, Spain, 1868-1875, Spanish government

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

History

Abstract

I chose to study the conflict between the Catholic Church and the new Spanish government during its reign of 1868 to 1875. In 1870, the government passed a controversial civil marriage bill, requiring each couple who wished to marry, to marry first by the State’s authority and then if they so wished to marry by the Church.1 If they did not follow this law, their marriage would not be legal and hence all offspring would be illegitimate.2 Also, inheritance laws would not be in effect for the couple nor their children and they would lose any inheritance granted by the law at the death of a parent or spouse. The Church responded similarly. The Church would not recognize any civil marriage, since marriage was ordained of God and entrusted to Christ’s church on earth for protection.3 The Spanish people, caught between the two authorities, had to chose which they would follow. Those who chose to marry during the conflict showed their loyalties and true feelings greater than any who protested with words.

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