Bishop and Government Candidate. The Mutual Support and the Convergence of Interests between Tomás Belestá and the Conservative Party

Abstract

Once the system of the Restoration was implemented in Spain, Cánovas needed the support of the Church to give stability to his project, as well as to disarm Carlism and to maintain the spread of socialism, but the religious tolerance sanctioned by the Constitution put many prelates in caution. From the conservative ranks it was necessary to support less traditional bishops like Tomás Belestá who was promoted to the episcopate by the government and was given a seat in the Senate. This bishop shows the plurality of the episcopate and the interest of conservatives to attract bishops that are more prone to his program.