Title: Communists and Catholics in France, 1936-1939
First published: 1989
Description: It is widely believed that interest among Communists and Catholics in the possible mutual benefits of co-operation is a Latin American phenomenon of recent vintage dating back no earlier than the late 1940s. In fact, in the years before World War II the Christian-Marxist dialogue in France proceeded on a level of sophistication unmatched since. Partly in response to the looming threat of fascism, in 1936 the French Communist Party (PCF) went public with its reformulated policy toward Catholics, offering to replace the antagonist's clenched fist with the outstretched hand of friendship. Murphy's study focuses on the constancy of the PCF's appeal to French Catholics, especially Catholic workers, for the next four years. Although French Catholics generally rejected the outstretched hand, the echoes of that Christian/Marxist dialogue sound again today in France, Poland, Nicaragua and Cuba, and throughout Latin America. -- Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Catholic Church, Communism and Christianity, Front populaire, History, Parti communiste français, Politics and government, Communism, france, France, politics and government, 1914-1940, Socialism and catholic church
Places: France
Time periods: 1914-1940, 20th century
LC classification: DC396 .M87 1989