Doctrinal Debates in the Fourth Mexican Provincial Council (1771)

Abstract

Based on the most important sources of The Fourth Mexican Provincial Council (1771) —specifically its decrees, dairies and catechism for the use of priests— the author reviews the main topics debated along the sessions. The article stresses the discussion over the main currents of theological and political thought by “modern” ecclesiastics who favoured catholic Enlightenment, and those favourable to “traditional” perspectives. This paper deals with regalism, conciliarist v.s. episcopalist views, certain traces of the auxiliis controversy as well as antijesuit policies.