Dramatic change in South America

Since its colonisation by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 16th century, Latin America has been considered a staunchly Catholic continent. The millions who inhabit it make up a large portion of the billion-plus Catholics in the world.

In recent years however religious sects have made significant inroads among the traditionally Catholic populations of South America. This notwithstanding, according to an official poll carried out less than two years ago, the Catholic Church emerged as the most trusted institution - according to 77 per cent of those surveyed - in all 17 South American countries.

Paradoxically, the highest percentage of trust in the Church is found in countries like Honduras and Guatemala where Protestant sects have gained most ground. The overall 77 per cent trust in the Catholic Church contrasts sharply with the figures obtained by others: political parties enjoy the confidence of just 18 per cent of the people; private businesses 28 per cent, the military 42 per cent, and the countries' Presidents 43 per cent.

So it is not surprising that the strong trust in the Church among the people convinced those political leaders who have always been openly antagonistic towards the Church to make a dramatic change and adopt pro-Christian language.

A columnist in a UK Catholic weekly has cited various examples, including Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, who, though maintaining a critical attitude towards the Church, "regularly invokes Christian language to legitimise his actions even to the point of comparing his political objectives to the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth". Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, whose Marxist-Sandinista regime persecuted the Church in the 1980s, has openly declared peace with the Church.

According to certain sociologists this dramatic change, from strong Marxist policies to pro-Christian attitudes, is due to two main developments. One is the inroads which Protestant sects are making and as a result "those embracing the sects are for the first time in their life experiencing a form of Christian spirituality".

The other factor is the mushrooming of Catholic movements like the Charismatic Renewal, Communione e Liberazione, Opus Dei and others which "emphasise a commitment to orthodox teaching and a deep spiritual life".

Faith, it seems, in many Latin American countries is increasingly being lived more out of conviction than because of culture and tradition. It is this dramatic change in the people's attitudes and way of life that observers believe is making political leaders turn more to God than to Karl Marx for their aims and inspirations. One hopes that this dramatic change is genuine and that it will bring about the stability and benefits that the long-suffering peoples of South America deserve.