A Regalist and Ilustrado Bishop?

Monarchy, Clergy and Gender according to Juan Cruz Ruiz de Cabañas, 1797-1824

Abstract

Recent historiography has tended to characterize the bishops of the second half of the 18th century as ilustrados and “regalists” It has been the case, particularly, of Juan Cruz Ruiz de Cabañas, Bishop of Guadalajara between 1797 and 1824. In this article, we analyze his pastoral letters, edicts and circulars letters to question both these categories. We are interested in examining three aspects of the social order in these documents: the relationship with the king and the monarchy, the relationship between the clergy and parishioners, and gender relations. Cabañas both accepted and distanced himself from the Crown’s decisions, although he constantly defended a Catholic political order against the insurgency. However, more important was his project to educate the parishioners to protect them from the advancement of “false philosophy”, using the clergy as their main instrument. Finally, he was also a defender of gender models in which clothing should be an expression of devotion rather than of some profane culture. Considering the above, rather than being an ilustrado bishop, we consider it possible to classify him as a constant enemy of the Enlightenment