The National Catholic party in Mexico (1911-1914): clerical phenomenon or expression of political participation of the Catholic laity?

Abstract

After years of absence in the field of politics in Mexico, in 1911 Catholics reappeared in a party that took the name of Catholic. In some states, this party had resounding successes that stoked the distrust of the liberal parties. From its name it had the clerical imprint and, in its actions, it sometimes did not distinguish if those who were part of it were really independent of the hierarchy or an extension of it to act in politics. This article will analyze whether in its brief history this organization achieved its objectives of impregnating public administration and the legal order with Christian principles or was limited in its attempts to not distinguish the limit of what belonged to religion and what it was typical of politics. It will also delve into the positive or negative effects that an interdependence of the laity of a religion with their leaders can have, when it comes to doing politics.