ABSTRACT
The religious development encouraging democratization involved the far-reaching changes that occurred in the doctrine, leadership, popular involvement, and political alignment of the Roman Catholic Church globally and in many countries. The national churches brought many resources to their war against authoritarianism. Church organizations and church buildings provided refuge and support for regime opponents. The relations between the Church and authoritarian governments tended to move through three phases: acceptance, ambivalence, and opposition. Initially, conservative elements within the hierarchy were usually dominant, embodying the historical position of the Church as establishment partner and defender of social peace. Church leaders usually welcomed the establishment of the authoritarian regime. The Church created organizations such as the Vicariate of Solidarity in Chile to provide support to the opposition and the second National Movement for Free Elections in the Philippines to promote return to the electoral process and to ensure honest elections.
