Five very Catholic brothers, the religious denomination of the Central American states: a legacy of the Cádiz Constitution and its connection with the concordats (1812-1862)

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the confessionality inherited by the Spanish Crown through the Constitution of Cádiz in the five states that emerged from the disintegration of the old Kingdom of Guatemala, between 1821 to 1862. The confessionality marked the historical development of these peoples and states, since it was a fundamental point to understand the relationships that existed with other states of the Western world, as well as with the Holy See. This is because the Central American peoples, for the period under study, were deeply Catholic and not only in their political constitutions, but also in their daily lives. However, such confessionalism changed over time, as it went from being exclusive to being tolerant. This was due to the new political, economic and social realities that the Western world experienced within the period under analysis. The sources used for this work are the first constitutions of each post-independence state, as well as the constitutions in force in the year the concordat was signed. Likewise, different correspondences from various archives of both Central America and the Holy See were used.

Fecha de envío / Submission date: 18/04/2024

Fecha de aceptación/ Acceptance date: 3/05/2024