Cultura cattolica e dibattito costituente

Abstract

The contribution of Italy's Catholic cultural heritage to the founding of the Republic and writing of the postwar Constitution has been explored by several studies. Since the seventies, the investigations of historians have pointed out the key role it played, the specificity of its contribution and its wide ranging influence in shaping the text of Italy's Constitution. This article combines the consideration of constitutional and legal issues with political and cultural perspectives; it charts the evolution of historical studies on the matter. Key issues of Italy's Constitution that were largely informed by Catholic values and political perspectives are identifies, pointing out also the plurality of political projects that had emerged within Catholic political forces and cultures.