De emancipatie der Nederlandse Rooms-Katholieken in de sociologische literatuur

Samenvatting

A study of the treatment by Dutch sociologists of the phenomenon of Catholic emancipation. The Dutch Catholics, always a substantial minority, began to strive for equality in the latter half of the last century. Their emancipation is now complete. It has been accompanied by some Protestant anxieties, linked with the fear that the higher birth rate will soon make the Catholics a majority that would seek to take power. The sociological literature on the Emancipation is reviewed, esp 3 books: (1) Het geboortenniveau der Nederlandse Rooms-Katholieken (The Birth Rate of Dutch Roman Catholics, 1954) by F. van Heek; (2) Katholieke minderheid en protestantse dominant (Catholic Minority and Protestant Domination, 1957) by W. Goddijn; and (3) De intellectuele emancipatie der katholieken (The Intellectual Emancipation of Catholics, 1958) by M. Matthijssen. 3 theses are developed in this literature: (a) the present Catholic position is merely a development of their past history (van Heek); (b) it will continue as long as the emancipation is not complete (Goddijn); (c) it represents a Catholic desire for expansion of power (van Heek; Matthijssen). It is felt that these 3 theses do not provide an adequate explanation; and a proposal is made for a future article to be written in collaboration with E. V. W. Vercruijsse. I. Langnas.