Febronianism

Febronianism was a powerful movement within the Roman Catholic Church in Germany, in the latter part of the 18th century, directed towards the nationalizing of Catholicism, the restriction of the power of the papacy in favor of that of the episcopate, and the reunion of the dissident churches with Catholic Christendom. It was thus, in its main tendencies, the equivalent of what in France is known as Gallicanism.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic Church - Germany - 18th century - Papacy - Gallicanism

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The name is derived from the pseudonym of Justinus Febronius adopted by Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim, coadjutor bishop of Treves (Trier), in publishing his work Justini Febronii Juris consulti de Stata Ecclesiæ et legitimâ potestate Romani Pontificis Liber singularis ad reuniendos dissidentes in religione christianos compositus (Bullioni apud Guillelmum Evrardi, 1763). This book, which roused a vast amount of excitement and controversy at the time, exercised an immense influence on opinion within the Roman Catholic Church, and the principles it proclaimed were put into practice by the rulers of that Church in various countries during the latter part of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century.

Related Topics:
Pseudonym - Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim - Treves

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