Figure 1.-- Most Argentines are Christian, mostly Catholic. This studio portrait is of two boys who look like twinsin their First Coomunion suits. They seem to be a bit older than the normal age for first communion (which is about 7 years of Ame in America). These boys look to be about 10 years old. They are identically dressed in double breasted short trousers suits with white open-collared shirts. Notice the white pocket handkerchiefs and the usual white bows on their left sleeves. One boy carries white gloves while the other one, kneeling, has a prayer book in his hands. Both boys where beige knee socks which are so close to skin color that at first they were wearing beige long stockings. The knee socks have a sheen which makes them look as though there were silk content in the yarn. Both wear highly polished black Oxford style shoes.

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.

History

Spanish Conquistadores brought Christianity to Buenos Aires which became the modern country of Argentina. They did not find the advnced civilizations wgich had developed in Meso-America and Peru. Much of the Native American population was wiped out through mistreatment and disease. Thus most Argentines thus trace their ancestry to Europeans, unlike the Amdean countries and Mexico aling with northern Central America. 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 changed (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 Argentines 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.

Denominations

The Protestant Reformation had little ijpact on Argentina and other Latin American countries, except for scattered English nd Dutch islands in the Caribbean and the Guianas. The Inquisition kept Protestants out. Even with the liberal independence movement, few Protestants came to Argentina. Argentina did receive substntial European immigration (late-19th and early-20th century), mostly Catholic Italians. Catholicism continued to dominate the country into the moden age. The major opposition was left-wing socilist thought basically atheist which has meant that the country, like Europe has become largely deChristianized. Historically, the Catholic religion played a very important part in politics and law. This changed as Catholcism has declined in importance, except for major cultural events like baptism, First Communion, feast days, weddings, and funerals. . Today some 90 percent of Argentines are nominally Roman Catholic, but fewer than 20 percent regularly attend church--predominately older women. The Catholic Church to combat this decline hasmade a leftward shift in its theology and teaching. Beliefing this would appeal to the political climte of the day and was also the best wy to affress inequities in society. The presidents of Argentina were Catholics. Revisions of the Constitution now mean that the there is no religious test for political leaders. Protestants are fastest growing religuous denomination. And while still a small minority, the relgious fervor and commitment among Prtiesrants is much more intense. nd unlike Catholic there has been so left-ward shift.

Catholocism

The Protestant Reformation had little ijpact on Argentina and other Latin American countries, except for scattered English nd Dutch islands in the Caribbean and the Guianas. The Inquisition kept Protestants out. Even with the liberal independence movement, few Protestants came to Argentina. Argentina did receive substntial European immigration (late-19th and early-20th century), mostly Catholic Italians. Catholicism continued to dominate the country into the moden age. The major opposition was left-wing socilist thought basically atheist which has meant that the country, like Europe has become largely deChristianized. Historically, the Catholic religion played a very important part in politics and law. This changed as Catholcism has declined in importance, except for major cultural events like baptism, First Communion, feast days, weddings, and funerals. Today some 90 percent of Argentines are nominally Roman Catholic, but fewer than 20 percent regularly attend church--predominately older women. Many Argentines still make annual pilgrimages to holy sites and local shrines. The most popular Argentine shrine is Luján, located 65 km west of Buenos Aires. Thousands of pilgrims from the capital make the trek on foot from Buenos Aires to honor the Patron Saint of Argentina--the The history of Luján dates from 1620. A statue of Mary was being carted to display in rural towns. It got stuck in Luján the local people were unable to move it. So the people built a chapel to protect the statue. Over time because of the reverence toward the Virgin, an impressive basilica stands where the the chapel once stood. The Argentine Catholic Church to combat this decline has made a leftward shift in its theology and teaching. Beliefing this would appeal to the political climte of the day and was also the best way to address inequities in society. This trend is not limited to Argentina. And as a result the Church chose an Argentine cleric know for his good wirks to be the pope--Pope Francis (2013). Pope Francis is undenibly goodly man. He is also a Marxist. Because of his Argentine background, he has not experienced capitalism and like many Latin Americans do not understand that the only prosperous countries in the world are capitalist countriesor democratuc socialist counties with a strong core private sector to pay the bills. And Pope Francis apoears unwilling because of his Marxist beliefs seem unwilling to take any strong stance to speak out against the Islamic genocide of Christians in the Midfle East. The presidents of Argentina were Catholics. Revisions of the Constitution now mean that the there is no religious test for political leaders (1994).

Protestantism

Protestants are fastest growing religuous denomination in Argentina And while still a small minority, the relgious fervor and commitment among Protestants is much more intense. The largest churches are Nartional Union Assembly of God and Assemblie of God, followed by the Mormons. The Mormans of course are not Protestants, but share mny similarities with Protestant evangelicals. There are quite a large number of smaller churches. Estimates suggest that nearly 10 percent of Argentines are Protestant and the most recent estimates look like 15 percent, an amazing increase. While this may seem to be a small part of the country, the fact that only about 20 percent of Argentines are practicing Catholics in a religious sence, shows that a substantial portion of religious Argentines are Protestant. And unlike Catholics, the faithful are not largely made up of older women. Protestant churches have been reporting substantial gains since the 1980s. A very ;arge part of that total are not the mainline Protestant denomination, but rather pentecostals/evangelicals. They appear to represent morethan hlf the total and much if the growth in recent years. Protestnt groups are the only Christian group (other than Mormans) in which a majority regularly attended church services. [Mallimaci, Cruz Esquivel, and Irrazábal] Unlike among Argentine Catholic there has been no left-ward Marxist shift among Protestants to attract convents. And Argentine Protestants like American evangelicals tend to be most supportive of conservative pro-market political policies. This is astonishing because the the Protestant movement in Argentina, as is the case in Latin America generally, has experienced much of its growth among the urban poor. One source explains this as "Pentecostalism's spontaneous and participatory worship, egalitarian organization, narrative preaching, lay evangelization, and especially its sense of divine presence." [Lilley] Interestingly, Pope Francis is popular among Argentine Protestants because of his ecumenical spirit. In addition to the larger Argentine Protestant community, there is also a small Mennonite colony.

Sources

Lilley, John M. Book Review, "Changing Tides: Latin America and World Mission Today" by Samuel Escobar in Evangelical Missions Quarterly (October 2003).

Mallimaci, Juan Cruz Esquivel, and Gabriela Irrazábal. "Primera encuesta sobre creencias y actitudes religiosas en argentina," (CONICET: August 6, 2008). This is a very detailed survey on belief and religious practice in Argentina.

Weber, Jeremy. "Argentine Evangelicals Say Bergoglio as Pope Francis Is 'Answer to Our Prayers' First Latin American pope offers opportunity to 'rethink differences' and 'join hands in mission.'" Christinity Today (March 14, 2013).

Created: 6:59 PM 7/12/2015
Last updated: 6:30 PM 1/22/2016