Quanta Cura

In the encyclical Quanta Cura of 1864 condemned Pope Pius IX. religious freedom and the separation of church and state. He is openly against the development secularized countries in Europe. In a separate annex, which was known by the name of Errors Syllabus, among other things, the idea of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, Protestantism, and the separation of church and state are expressly designated as an error. As a final point in the 80 entries scoring list, the idea is discarded, that the papal doctrine should be revised on the basis of new findings.

The claim of the Catholic Church on the final authority in spiritual things, the formulated this encyclical, took place a few years later with the dogma of the infallibility of the Pope ( Pastor Aeternus → ) its logical consequence. By rejecting basic liberal values, the encyclical has contributed to democratic forms of society have long been considered unchristian. Likewise, the relationship with the Protestant churches was done lasting damage.