Catholic Party (Belgium)
| Historical leaders |
Charles Woeste Paul de Smet de Naeyer Jules de Burlet Auguste Beernaert Gustave Sap |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1869 |
| Dissolved | 1945 |
| Succeeded by | Christian Social Party |
| Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
| Trade Union's wing | Confederation of Christian Trade Unions |
| Ideology |
Belgian nationalism Christian democracy Conservatism |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| International affiliation | None |
| Colours | Gold |
The Catholic Party (French: Parti catholique, Dutch: Katholieke Partij) was established in 1869 as the Confessional Catholic Party (Dutch: Confessionele Katholieke Partij).
In 1852, a Union Constitutionelle et Conservatrice was founded in Ghent, in Leuven (1854), and in Antwerp and Brussels in 1858, which were active only during elections. On July 11, 1864, the Federation of Catholic Circles and Conservative Associations was created (French: Fédération des Cercles catholiques et des Associations conservatrices; Dutch: Verbond van Katholieke Kringen en der Conservatieve Verenigingen).
The other group which contributed to the party were the Catholic Cercles, of which the eldest had been founded in Bruges. The Roman Catholic conferences in Mechelen in 1863, 1864, and 1867 brought together Ultramontanes or Confessionals and the Liberal-Catholics or Constitutionals. At the Congress of 1867, it was decided to create the League of Catholic Cercles, which was founded on October 22, 1868.
The Catholic Party, under the leadership of Charles Woeste, gained an absolute majority in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives in 1884 from the Liberal Party in the wake of the schools dispute. The Catholic Party retained its absolute majority until 1918. In 1921, the party became the Catholic Union, and from 1936 the Catholic Block.
At the end of World War II, on 18–19 August 1945 the party was succeeded by the PSC-CVP.
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