Abstract

This dissertation seeks, in the context of the history of moral thought, to trace the progressive insights into the problems involved in the relations of Church and State contained in the writings of Hugues-Felicite Robert de la Mennais .$\sp1$ His writings extending as they do over the years 1808 to 1850 focus upon these issues at a most significant period of history, that of post-revolutionary Europe, which may be said to have ushered in the modern era. At that time the Church began gradually to emerge from the Ancien Regime union of altar and throne, and was obliged to come to terms not only with popular aspirations towards democracy but with secularized governments and increasingly pluralistic societies. Many of the questions Lamennais raised: questions of political liberties, of liberty of conscience, of religious liberty in particular, of the relation between reason and faith, of the extent of the authority of both Church and State, are all questions with which we are still grappling. This essay will be the first presentation in English of Lamennais' doctrines regarding these issues of Church and State. ;Lamennais' writings fall into three main periods: a royalist, ultramontane phase during the Restoration; a Catholic liberal phase from 1829 to 1832: a humanitarian, republican phase until his death in 1854. In each of these periods he advocated a different relationship between Church and State. This exposition will demonstrate that these changes in position were differences in the practical application of his basic epistemology which remained constant throughout his career. In general, the method to be followed will be an analysis of Lamennais' own texts. By permitting the texts to speak for themselves it is hoped insights faithful to the author's own conception of Church/State relations will emerge. Since Lamennais' changes in political platform occurred in chronological sequence, his writings will be considered mainly in the order of their publication, though not strictly so; where the theme demands it, references to several texts will be collated. Lamennais' correspondence will be consulted simultaneously in order to insure that the interpretation proposed in this dissertation is in line with the author's own thought on the subject. ftn$\sp1$After 1835 approximately, Lamennais signed his name LAMENNAIS instead of de la Mennais; throughout this dissertation this usage will be observed as more consistent with Lamennais' love for the people