Teología en América Latina, II/2: De las guerras de independencia hasta finales del siglo XIX (1810-1899) (review)

"When Latin-American theology of the nineteenth century is addressed in depth, one of the researcher's great surprises is the unsuspected richness of authors and subject-matters, and their strongly autochthonous and uncultured character." With these words, Josep-Ignasi Saranyana, the editor of Teología en América Latina, begins his introduction to this volume, which is the culmination of a daunting project: to present the theology developed in the lands discovered by Columbus in 1492 in a comprehensive fashion. For the first time, these pages offer a wide and detailed view full history of nineteenth-century Latin American theology.

This work is divided into two parts, presenting a general framework of elements common to the whole Catholic world as well as aspects pertaining to Latin America. Regarding the latter, subjects discussed include the canonical penal procedures against revolutionaries; the legitimacy of insurgency; the theological and canonical implications of republican patronage that encompasses the Roman pontiff's jurisdiction and episcopal appointments; the debates surrounding the Immaculate Conception; the reactions to late Gallicanism; the first proposals made by liberal theology; the participation of Latin American prelates in the First Vatican Council; the canonical and ecclesiastical proposals on the nature of natural law in Latin America; the relationship of the new human sciences to the historical sciences; the provincial councils in Latin America that were summoned to receive the First Vatican Council's edicts; and the long-range cultural projects intended to instruct Catholic intellectuals in Latin America.

The first part, consisting of two chapters, presents a general overview of the politico-ecclesiastical scenario throughout the nineteenth century in Latin America. The first chapter, by Marta Eugenia García Ugarte, covers the strife surrounding the independence movements; the beginnings of republican governments, with the exception of Brazil, which maintained the monarchical tradition; and the role of liberalism in the movement toward modernity, secularization, ecclesiastical property expropriation, separation of church and state, abolition of privilege, and lay education. The great political and social events of the day are presented, offering the Church's role in the civil and political societies of the various countries of the continent, especially Mexico. The second chapter presents a systematic examination of the attempts from 1852 to 1892 between various Latin American countries and the Holy See to develop concordats, including both successful and unsuccessful efforts.

The second part dedicates five chapters to the study of theology within the republican framework. Chapter 3 is dedicated to theology through the achievement of independence (1810-25), focusing on the main representatives of independence and the theological arguments supporting their stand. There are sections on Mexico and Gran Colombia by Carmen-José Alejos Grau, on Peru by Fernando Armas Asín, on Chile by Elisa Luque Alcalde, and on Río de la Plata by Néstor Tomás. In chapter 4, various authors study the theological polemics in the independent republics. Alfonso Alcalá begins with an analysis of Mexican polemicists before and after the 1857 Constitution, and others continue with theological polemics in Central America (Hugo Aníbal Dávila), the Colombian Catholic polemicists (Iván Darío Toro Jaramillo), the theological polemics in Peru (Fernando Armas Asín), and Argentina's journalists, polemicists, and apologists during the same period (Néstor Tomás Auza).

Chapter 5—the most extensive of the book—is dedicated to academic theologians and canonists of the independent republics and Cuba, which Saranyana cowrote. It presents a panoramic view of theological speculation in Latin America and the Caribbean during the nineteenth century, encompassing the work of academic theologians, great prelates who developed theological arguments in their pastorals or other doctrinal documents, priests, and laypeople. It is important to consider...