The Catholic Church and Political Resistance

The Catholic Church's role in Puerto Rican politics reflects the complexities of institutional power under colonialism.

Historical Role:
- Under Spanish colonialism, the Church was the official religion and supported colonial authority
- The U.S. invasion brought Protestant missionaries who competed with Catholicism
- The Church initially accommodated U.S. rule while maintaining cultural influence

Bishop Antulio Parrilla Bonilla: One of the most significant figures in religious resistance was Bishop Antulio Parrilla Bonilla (1919-1994), a Jesuit priest and auxiliary bishop of San Juan who became a prominent independence advocate. He:
- Publicly supported Puerto Rican independence from the pulpit
- Was arrested multiple times for civil disobedience in Vieques
- Argued that colonialism was sinful and that the Church had a moral obligation to support decolonization
- Connected Puerto Rican liberation to broader liberation theology movements in Latin America

Vieques and the Church: The Catholic Church in Puerto Rico was a significant supporter of the Vieques demilitarization movement:
- The Archbishop of San Juan publicly supported the protests
- Religious leaders organized prayer vigils and civil disobedience actions
- Church facilities provided logistical support for protesters

Post-María: After Hurricane María, the Catholic Church's network of parishes and charitable organizations provided critical relief services — often more effectively than federal agencies. Catholic Charities, Caritas, and individual parishes became distribution centers for food, water, and medical supplies.

Fiscal Austerity: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Puerto Rico has criticized the fiscal control board's austerity measures as disproportionately harming the poor and vulnerable.