Figure 1.--Argentina continues to be a mostly Catholic country although only a smallm minority regulsarly ttends church. Many children, however, do First Communion. This colorized portrait shows an unidentifiee boy doing his First Communion about 1930.

Spanish Conquistadores brought Christianity to Buenos Aires which became the modern country of Argentina. Much of the Native American population was wiped out through mistreatment and disease. Thus most Argentines trace their ancestry to Europeans. Spanish and Church authorities prohibited Protestants and Jews from setting in the new colony. Roman Catholicism was the only permitted relgion. The Inquisition was active in Argentina and other Spanish colonies. The early colonists were Spanish, but oyher colonists from southern Europe subsequentky arrived, mostly Catholic southern Europe. In addition to the original Spanish settlers, large numbers of Catholic Italians emigrated to Italy in the late-19th and early-20th century. Argentine as a result is a largely Catholic country. First Communion has traditionally been an important event in the lives of Argetine children. As in much of Latin America, religion has declined in importance in Argentina in recent years. The Inquisition kept Protestants out of its American empire. This ended with independence (1811). As a result, there is now a small Protestant minority. There is also a small Jewish minority. Although prohbited by the Royal officials and the Church, a few Jews managed to avoid the Inquisition and settle in Europe. A small number of European Jews emograted in the 19th and 20th century. Since World War II some Muslims have emograted to Argentina, many from Lebanon.

Christianity

Spanish Conquistadores brought Christianity to Buenos Aires which became the modern country of Argentina. Much of the Native American population was wiped out through mistreatment and disease. Thus most Argentines trace their ancestry to Europeans. Spanish and Church authorities prohibited Protestants and Jews from setting in the new colony. Roman Catholicism was the only permitted relgion. The Inquisition was active in Argentina and other Spanish colonies. The Catholic Church played an important role in Colonial Argentina, including politics and law. After the war of Independence from Spain, one of the major issues separating conservatives and liberals was the appropriate role of the Catholic Church. As late as the 1990s, the president and vice president had to be Roman Catholic. The constitution was finally change (1994). The early colonists were Spanish, but other colonists from southern Europe subsequentky arrived, mostly Catholic southern Europe. In addition to the original Spanish settlers, large numbers of Catholic Italians emigrated to Italy in the late-19th and early-20th century. Argentine as a result is a largely Catholic country. First Communion has traditionally been an important event in the lives of Argetine children. As in much of Latin America, religion has declined in importance in Argentina in recent years. The Inquisition kept Protestants out of its American empire. This ended with independence (1811). As a result, there is now a small Protestant minority. Some 90 percent of Argentunes still identify as being Roman Catholic, Even so, only about 20 percent ttend church regularly. Many Argebtine Churches are often empty or with just few worshipers. Many especially men only attend church for weddings, funerals and on major feast days.

Judaism

Spain expelled its Jews in the same year Columbus discovered America. Spain prohibited Jews and later Protestants from its colonies. Some Jews converted to Christianity rather than being expelled. Some of these convcersos secretly retained their Jewish faith. They were gradually discovered by the Holy Inquisition. Some of the conversos emigrated to Argentina. They gradually assimilated and by the 19th century there were virtually no Jews in Argentina. When Spain weakened during the Napoleonic wars, its Latin American colonies fought successful wars of independence. Argentina achieved its independence (1810). Independent Argentina's first president, Bernardino Rivadavia, upported open immigration and promoted individual rights. He abolished the Inquisition. European Jews began arriving in Argentina along with other European immigrants in the mid-19th century. Many of the Jewish immigrants at this time were from France. Jews gradually began to practice their religion openly. The first Jewish wedding occurred (1860). A minyan in Buenos Aires became the Congregacion Israelita de la Republica. Jewish immigration shifted as Tsarist pogroms in Russia targeted Jews. Jewish immigration in the late 19th century was mostly from Eastern Europe and were knon as "Rusos". A notable group of Russian Jews attived on the SS Weser and became gauchos (cowboys) and ranchers (1889). They established the Colony (rural community) Moiseville. Baron Maurice de Hirsch helped finnce this and other colonias. He also founded the Jewish Colonization Association. Substantial numbers of Jews eventually lived in these colonias. In the years before World War I about 13,000 Jewish immigrants annually entered Argentina.

Islam

Since World War II some Muslims have emigrated to Argentina, many from Lebanon.

Created: 2:19 PM 7/24/2013
Last updated: 6:49 PM 7/12/2015