| 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 |
| Trade Union wing | Confederation of Christian Trade Unions |
| Ideology | Belgian nationalism Christian democracy Conservatism Clericalism |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| International affiliation | White International |
| Colours | Gold |
TheCatholic Party (French:Parti catholique,pronounced[paʁtikatɔlik];Dutch:Katholieke Partij,pronounced[kɑtoːˈlikəpɑrˈtɛi]) was a Belgian political party established in 1869 as theConfessional Catholic Party (Dutch:Confessionele Katholieke Partij). In 1921, the party became theCatholic Union, and from 1936 theCatholic Block.
In 1852, aUnion Constitutionnelle et Conservatrice was founded inGhent, inLeuven (1854), and inAntwerp andBrussels in 1858, which were active only during elections. On 11 July 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 theCatholic Cercles, of which the eldest had been founded inBruges. TheMalines Congresses in 1863, 1864, and 1867 brought togetherUltramontanes orConfessionals and the Liberal-Catholics orConstitutionals. At the Congress of 1867, it was decided to create theLeague of Catholic Circles, which was founded on 22 October 1868.
The Catholic Party, under the leadership ofCharles Woeste, gained an absolute majority in theBelgian Chamber of Representatives in 1884 from theLiberal Party in the wake ofthe schools dispute. The Catholic Party retained its absolute majority until 1918. In 1921, the party became theCatholic Union, and from 1936 theCatholic Block.
The party remained almost entirely inactive during theGerman occupation of Belgium during World War II and was officially disbanded on 5 February 1945.[1] A successor party was founded on 18–19 August 1945 in the form ofChristian Social Party (PSC-CVP).
