This week in Christian history: National Baptist Convention formed; oldest preacher dies

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, September 22, 2024

Ecuador makes Catholicism its official religion – Sept. 26, 1862

Gabriel Garcia Moreno (1821-1875), the former president of Ecuador, was assassinated shortly after winning a third term in office. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when the newly independent Latin American nation of Ecuador agreed to make the Roman Catholic Church its official established religion.

In a concordat signed between President Gabriel Garcia Moreno and Pope Pius IX, Ecuador formally recognized Catholicism as "the sole religion of the Republic of Ecuador."

"In consequence, no other dissident form of worship or any society condemned by the Church shall at any time be allowed within the Republic of Ecuador," continued the agreement.

"The education of young people in Universities, Colleges, Faculties, public and private schools shall be in full conformity with the Catholic religion. The Bishops shall enjoy in the exclusive right of indicating books or texts for the teaching of religious knowledge, and also for religious and moral instruction."

The concordat, ratified in 1863, was eventually broken around 30 years later when political conservatives lost power.