Abstract

This essay analyzes the relationship between the Catholic Church and Chi-lean politics during the sixties, specifically from 1961 to 1970, to coincide with the rise of Archbishop Raul Silva Henriquez to in 1961 to the Archbis-hopric of Santiago and the presidential election of 1970. During this several decade sensitive issues of public life found echoes in the spiritual guidance of the Church, especially the Alliance for Progress, the increasing polarization and political violence, which marked a controversial agenda these years, and equally controversial in historiography focused on that time.