ChileSee also Latin America, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico. 1. Brief Introduction 1. Brief Introduction to Religion and Politics in Chile Chile has a population of 16.7 million, with a population growth rate of .86% (July 2010 est). It 2009 HDI ranking is #44, and the 2009 CPI ranking is 6.7, high for Lain America. The 2002 Census lists Chile as 70% Catholic, 15.1% Evangelical, 1.1% Jehovah's Witness, 1% other Christian, 4.6% other, and 8.3% none. The two prinicpal stories of the twentieth century on the Catholic side concern the development of Christian Democracy (See Smith, 1982) and the resistance of the hierarchy to the Pinochet dictatorship. The Cardinal Archbishop of Santiago, Raúl Silva Henríquez, led the fight against human rights abuses in the early years. Pinochet’s wife rejoiced in the appointment of Juan Francisco Fresno as his successor, but the latter put together a united pro-democracy movement that eventually brought about the restoration of civilian rule. For twenty years a center-left alliance of Christian Democrats and Socialists, the Coalition of Parties for Democracy (CPD), held the government. The last two presidents, Ricardo Lagos and Michelle Bachelet, have been moderate Socialists. Lagos signed a free trade pact with the United States in 2002. Bachelet is the first woman president in Latin America not the widow or wife of a previous leader. The fact that Chile could elect an agnostic woman without the protests of the church is an indication of the caliber of the candidate and the strength of a political unity that serves all Chileans. However, the president and the Catholic hierarchy have experienced tension over social issues like adoption policy and government free provision of the morning-after pill (see articles below). Bachelet's government did run into problems on corruption and tranportation in Santiago, but she left office with approval ratings around 75 percent. In December 2009 Sebastian Pinera became Chile's first right-wing president since Pinochet, outpolling the ex-president Eduardo Frei of the CPD 52 to 48 percent. This election did not signal a major change or polarization, however, as both candidates advocated macroeconomic stability and a pursuit of social justice. With simultaneous elections for the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, the political center continues to hold. The major story on the Protestant side describes the coming of Pentecostalism and its attempt to find social space. This differs from some other Latin American countries since, according to David Martin (below), the vast majority of the Chilean Methodist Pentecostal Church come from “marginal people with limited education, engaged in insecure employment and living either in the rural areas or on the peripheries of the larger cities.” Chile is one of Latin America’s most socially conservative countries, with divorce first legal in 2004 and custody almost always given to the mother. However, the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn lower court rulings and to deny three children to their lesbian mother’s custody has become a significant social issue with political ramifications. Hanson (2006), pp. 260-94, discusses "Latin America: Indigenous Religions, Christianity, and Globalization.” 2. A Short Introductory Course for Religion and Politics in Chile Brian Smith presents the classic description of the development of Christian Democracy in Chile. Fleet and Smith take the story up to 1998 in comparison with Peru. Lies and Malone describe the current dynamic. Smith, Brian H. The Church and Politics in Chile: Challenges to Modern Catholicism (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1982). Fleet, Michael and Smith, Brian H. The Catholic Church and Democracy in Chile and Peru (Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 1997). Lies, William, C.S.C., and Malone, Mary Fran T., “The Chilean Church: Declining Hegemony?” Manuel, Paul Christopher, Reardon, Lawrence C., and Wilcox, Clyde, eds. The Catholic Church and the Nation-State: Comparative Perspectives (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2006), 89-100. 3. Other Key Resource Materials for Religion and Politics in Chile Chesnut, R. Andrew, “A Preferential Option for the Spirit: The Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Latin America’s New Religious Economy,” Latin American Politics and Society 45, no. 1 (spring 2003): 55-85. Gill, Anthony. Rendering Unto Caesar: The Catholic Church and the State in Latin America (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998). Gill, Anthony, “Religion and Democracy in South America: Challenges and Opportunities,” in Jelen and Wilcox, Comparative Politics (2002). Klaiber, Jeffrey, S.J. The Church, Dictatorships, and Democracy in Latin America (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1998). Levine, Daniel H., and Stoll, David, “Bridging the Gap Between Empowerment and Power in Latin America,” Rudolph, Susanne Hoeber, and Piscatori, James, Transnational Religion and Fading States (Boulder, Co.: Westview Press, 1997), 63-103. Martin, David, “Evangelical and Charismatic Christianity in Latin America,” in Karla Poewe, ed., Charismatic Christianity as a Global Culture (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1994), 73-86. Smith, Brian H. Religious Politics in Latin America: Pentecostal vs. Catholic (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1998). 4. Recent News Articles on Chile “U.S. and Chile Reach Free Trade Accord,” New York Times, December 12, 2002. Obit for “Juan Fresno, cardinal in Chile,” San Jose Mercury News, October 16, 2004. Juan Francisco Fresno played a key role in the restoration of democracy. “Chile Is Ready to Elect a President Unlike Any Other,” New York Times, January 15, 2006. Center-left agnostic pediatrician Michelle Bachelet versus billionaire Sebastián Piñera. Analysis of campaign between two unusual candidates for Chile. “A Leader Making Peace With Chile’s Past,” New York Times, January 16, 2006. Bachelet wins. “Chile’s Socialist President Exits Enjoying Wide Respect,” New York Times, March 11, 2006. Summary of achievements of Ricardo Lagos. “Visit to U.S. Not a First for Chile’s First Female President,” New York Times, June 8, 2006. “A Lesbian Mother’s Case Tests Chile’s View of Human Rights,” New York Times, July 20, 2006. Chilean Judge Karen Atala lost custody of three children when Supreme Court ruled that lesbianism was “situation of risk.” Case at Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, polls evenly divided. "Policy on Moning-After Pill Upsets Chile," New York Times, December 17, 2006. Opponents, including bishops, criticize state free provision of pill to girls as young as fourteen without parental notification. Socialists call for decriminalization of abortion, which their coalition partners, the Christian Democrats oppose. "Chile Copper Windfall Forces Hard Choices on Santiago," New York Times, January 7, 2007. Argument over how to spend bonanza from rise in price of copper fueled by China's need. "One Year Into Term, Chile's Leader Tries to Reverse Slide," New York Times, April 3, 2007. Bachelet faces loss in popularity due to corruption and transportation fiasco in Santiago. Her cabinet brought about increased diversity, but less state experience. "Chilean Court Orders Arrests of Pinochet's Kin and Close Allies," New York Times, October 5, 2007. Judge orders arrest of widow, five children, and 17 close collaborators on charges of misappropriating public funds. "Chilean Leader's Legacy Is Upended Traditions and Balanced Books," New York Times, October 29, 2009. Summary of presidential term of Michelle Bachelet, currently with 70% approval rating. She started slowly with student strike and Transantiago transportation system, but shone in her handling of the economy, and then with free early childhood education centers for poor and minimum pension guarantees. During the last commodity boom in copper, she saved and invested in sovereign funds that then made money during the global fiscal crisis. Chile became a net creditor for the first time in its history, and Brazil and Chile are emerging from the recession. "Chilean Vote Is Another Sign of Latin America's Fading Political Polarization," New York Times, January 20, 2010. Analysis of Pinera presidential victory. "Chile Rejects Church Call To Pardon Officials," New York Times, July 26, 2010. President Pinera rejects Church's call to pardon ex-military officials for their participation in dirty war. Church has standing of resisting Pinochet, so President's move called "bold." Church still reacts positively to Pinera's response, which calls to improve prison conditions and decide on pardons on a case to case basis. August 9, 2010. |
|
|
