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Why were conservative parties often linked to religious organizations in Roman Catholic countries?

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A large crowd of Rwandan Patriotic Front supporters holds up red, white, and blue FPR flags and campaign posters at a political rally in Kayonza, Eastern Province. — political party Rwandan Patriotic Front political rally in Kayonza, Rwanda, August 2010.

In Roman Catholic countries, conservative parties were often linked to religious organizations primarily as a defensive response to the political challenges of the 19th and 20th centuries. During this period, the Roman Catholic Church faced significant pressure from two main fronts: liberal reformers who promoted anticlerical policies and working-class socialists who challenged traditional social structures.1

To protect its institutional interests and address the needs of an increasingly industrial and turbulent working class, the Church developed social doctrines and political movements that eventually became known as Christian Democracy. These parties were conservative in their defense of private property and traditional family values, which they viewed as essential to a stable, Christian society. Simultaneously, they incorporated progressive elements, such as policies of social justice, to provide a moral alternative to socialism and to encourage industrial workers to remain within the faith.12

Ultimately, this alliance served as a bulwark against radicalism, with many conservatives viewing the Church as a vital institution for maintaining social order and curbing destructive human instincts.3