Patronage and piety
the politics of English Roman Catholicism, 1850-1900
Dermot Quinn
277 pages | ~8 hrs
Patronage and piety
the politics of English Roman Catholicism, 1850-1900
By Dermot Quinn
In the mid-nineteenth century, English Catholics believed their moment had arrived. After centuries of marginalization, they sensed a spiritual and social renaissance that would restore their faith to prominence in Victorian society. With towering intellectual leaders and growing numbers from Irish immigration, they anticipated wielding genuine influence in the corridors of power.
Dermot Quinn's scholarly examination reveals how profoundly these expectations diverged from political reality. Through meticulous research into the careers of prominent Catholic figures like the Marquis of Ripon and the Duke of Norfolk, Quinn demonstrates how Catholic leaders consistently misjudged the political landscape around them.
The book traces the complex dance between Catholic aspirations and Protestant suspicions, showing how both Liberal and Conservative parties found anti-Catholic sentiment politically useful. During moments of high tension, such as the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy or Gladstone's attacks on "Vaticanism," hostility erupted openly. Even in quieter periods, Catholics faced persistent distrust from the broader population.
Quinn's analysis extends from elite political maneuvering to grassroots electoral dynamics, revealing how Catholic political strength remained largely illusory despite confident claims otherwise. Some Catholics sought personal advancement through their religious identity, while party leaders like Gladstone and Disraeli navigated the delicate balance of courting Catholic support without alienating Protestant voters.
This study offers valuable insights into how religious communities can misread their cultural moment and the gap between spiritual confidence and political reality.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Catholic church, great britain
- ✓ Explore Rooms-Katholieke Kerk
- ✓ Explore Political
- ✓ Explore Antikatholizismus
- ✓ Explore Katholizismus
- ✓ Explore Patronage
- ✓ Explore Catholic Church
- ✓ Explore Catholics
Topics
Details
- Published
- 1993
- Publisher
- Stanford University Press
- ISBN-10
- 0804719969
- Pages
- 277
- Language
- EN
- LC Classification
- BX1493.Q55 1993
