Why did liberal movements accuse clergy of supporting monarchies?

Liberal movements often accused the clergy of supporting monarchies because, in many European nations, the church and the state were perceived as a monolithic entity that upheld the ancien régime. This perceived alliance was rooted in several factors:1

• Shared Interests: Both the monarchy and the clergy were defenders of the established order. The aristocracy, which held significant power under the monarchy, was also the primary source of the church's leadership, including its bishops.12
• Mutual Justification: Monarchs frequently appealed to divine authority to justify their rule, while the church relied on the state to maintain its privileges, property, and social influence.34
• Opposition to Reform: When faced with the threat of revolution, both lay and clerical defenders of the status quo often spoke out against liberal movements, confirming the perception that the church was subservient to the crown.1
• Political Allegiance: In countries like France, royalist-clerical parties frequently opposed republican-anticlerical parties, solidifying the view that the clergy were inherently tied to monarchist regimes.3

Consequently, liberals viewed the clergy’s influence as a barrier to constitutional liberties, secular education, and the modernization of political institutions.35