‘Must God Go Fascist?’: English Catholic Opinion and the Spanish Civil War

Abstract

Those individuals who seek to apply moral principles to their consideration of the affairs of nations of which they lack direct knowledge may expect to encounter certain difficulties. They may have no means of obtaining indisputable answers to questions even of a factual nature, and they may find it impossible adequately to weigh the contradictory claims of various factions. Moreover, if a religious or other close bond exists with one of the parties to a conflict, it might be tempting to subscribe to the justice of that group's struggle.

British News Media and the Spanish Civil WarTomorrow May Be Too Late

“…(Cowles, 1941: 72) The second theme was a self-conscious religiosity that characterised the Nationalist rebellion as a Catholic 'crusade' against atheistic hordes. This proved highly effective in mobilising support internationally for Franco, both domestically and among Catholic institutions and congregations across the world (Thomas, 2003: 495;Flint, 1987). The final theme drew on reactionary conceptions of Spanish nationhood, which repudiated regional separatism and sought to associate Franco 'with the great heroes of Spain's past' (Preston, 1993: 290).…”