Democracy in the Church

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to examine the applicability in the Church of democracy properly understood. Applying the principles of the inductive method, arguments are developed after historical evidence and current situations are duly considered. Therefore, the first chapter starts with a historical survey to examine the true meaning of democracy and subsequently to relate it with the Christian vision of humankind. The second chapter looks for historical points of contact between democracy and the Church by analysing the earlier stages of Church history. After that, in the last chapter, particular attention is given to the vision of the Church and her actual state as from the time of the second Vatican council to the present. Theological arguments pro and con the introduction or recuperation of democratic elements in the Church are discussed, and finally, keeping in mind the outcome of the historical survey and of the theological debate, the work seeks to apply to the Church aspects found congruent with that truly Catholic vision of the Church based on revelation and tradition, especially as understood by Vatican II.