Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Abbreviations Maps PART 1: INTRODUCTION An Institutional Approach to the Church Historical Models of the Church Structure of the Book PART 2: THE CATHOLIC HIERARCHY IN NICARAGUA: ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION Historical Background From Conservative to Reformist Church Conclusions PART 3: ATTEMPTS TO BUILD A GRASSROOTS VHURCH IN NICARAGUA Alternative Pastoral Strategies New Challenges PART 4: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE NICARAGUAN REVOLUTION Differing Responses to the Revolutionary Process The FSLN and the Catholic Church The Hierarchy in Opposition to the Revolution PART 5: THE EVOLUTION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN COSTA RICA Historical Background Mons. Sanabria and the Origins of a Reformist Church PART 6: THE COSTA RICAN HIERARCHY AND TH ERFORMIST PROJECT The Long Period of Silence The Silence is Broken PART 7: EFFORTS TO TRANSFORM THE CHURCH IN COSTA RICA Early Attempts to Transform the Church Working Within the Structures of the Church Itac Conclusions PART 8: CONCLUSIONS Historical Development of the Two Churches Efforts to Transform the Church in Nicaragua and Costa Rica The Impact of National Political Factors Versus External Influences Notes Bibliography Index