The failure of Secularism in Argentina Taking one step forward and two steps backward

¿Who is she?

Cristina Kirchner (and canadian MP Stephen Harper)

And her?

Eva Perón

And him?

Juan Domingo Perón

And this man?

Domingo Faustino Sarmiento “The Teacher of Latin America”

XIXth Century 1810 May Revolution

XIXth Century May Revolution Declaration of Independence

XIXth Century May Revolution Declaration of Independence First Provintial Constitution, Secular

First secular Constitution: San Juan shortlived experience Salvador María del Carril

XIXth Century May Revolution Declaration of Independence Argentine Constitution First Provintial Constitution, Secular

Argentine Constitution PREAMBLE We, the representatives of the people of the Argentine Nation, assembled in General Constituent Congress by the will and election of the provinces which compose it, in fulfillment of pre-existing pacts, with the object of constituting the national union, ensuring justice, preserving domestic peace, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves, to our posterity, and to all men in the world who wish to dwell on Argentine soil: invoking the protection of God, source of all reason and justice, do ordain, decree and establish this Constitution for the Argentine Nation.

Argentine Constitution PREAMBLE We, the representatives of the people of the Argentine Nation, assembled in General Constituent Congress by the will and election of the provinces which compose it, in fulfillment of pre-existing pacts, with the object of constituting the national union, ensuring justice, preserving domestic peace, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves, to our posterity, and to all men in the world who wish to dwell on Argentine soil: invoking the protection of God, source of all reason and justice, do ordain, decree and establish this Constitution for the Argentine Nation.

Argentine Constitution Article 2: the Argentine government will support the Roman Catholic Church

Argentine Constitution Article 2: the Argentine government will support the Roman Catholic Church

Argentine Constitution Article 2: the Argentine government will support the Roman Catholic Church Article 68, part 15: Congress must provide border security, maintain peaceful relations with the “indians” and actively promote their conversion to the Catholic Faith.

Argentine Constitution Article 2: the Argentine government will support the Roman Catholic Church Article 68, part 15: Congress must provide border security, maintain peaceful relations with the “indians” and actively promote their conversion to the Catholic Faith.

Argentine Constitution Article 2: the Argentine government will support the Roman Catholic Church Article 68, part 15: Congress mustprovide border security, maintain peaceful relations with the “indians” and actively promote their conversion to the Catholic Faith. Article 73: In order for one to be elected President or Vice-President of the Confederation one must be either a native or the son of a native born overseas, a member of the Roman Catholic Church and the remaining conditions necessary to become a Senator.

Argentine Constitution Article 2: the Argentine government will support the Roman Catholic Church Article 68, part 15: Congress mustprovide border security, maintain peaceful relations with the “indians” and actively promote their conversion to the Catholic Faith. Article 73: In order for one to be elected President or Vice-President of the Confederation one must be either a native or the son of a native born overseas, a member of the Roman Catholic Church and the remaining conditions necessary to become a Senator.

XIXth Century May Revolution Declaration of Independence Argentine Constitution First Provintial Constitution, Secular Sarmiento President

He brings american teachers to train argentine ones. First time the Federal Government builds schools in the provinces. First Argentine Census.

XIXth Century May Revolution Declaration of Independence Argentine Constitution First Provintial Constitution, Secular Sarmiento President 1420 Education Law passed

1420 Education law The law states that education must be Compulsory for every child, Free, Gradual, and excludes any kind of religious education from the Curricula Civil Registry law This law takes away the keeping of public records from the Catholic Church. Marriages, Births and Deaths will have to go through the Government. The Vatican closes international relations with Argentina for almost a year. So far, so good.

XXth Century 1943 New Education Law

XXth Century New Education Law Peronist Education Law mandatory religion

Religious education Decree Law De facto president Edelmiro Farrell signs into law the decree n° which states that the “teaching of cathecism will be permited in school s curricula”. In order to apease the Catholic church, the Peronist party passes the law which states that “religious and moral education will be a compulsory part of the school programs.

XXth Century New Education Law Peronist Education Law mandatory religion New Peronist Education law, no more religion

No more Religious education + Divorce Law Peron creates a new law, where he forbids religious education (worshipping Evita and Peron had become the “State Religion”), recognizes bastards and creates the first “Divorce Law”.

XXth Century New Education Law Peronist Education Law mandatory religion New Peronist Education law, no more religion 1955 Peron ousted, back to 1943 law

Peron Ousted Peron is ousted in 1955, by the Libertadora Revolution, after this, the law goes back to When the Military government is over (1958) the law goes back to the 1420 law (with slight modifications).

XXth Century New Education Law Peronist Education Law mandatory religion Last Coup d’etat New Peronist Education law, no more religion 1955 Peron ousted, back to 1943 law

XXth Century New Education Law Peronist Education Law mandatory religion Last Coup d’etat New Peronist Education law, no more religion Falkland’s war 1955 Peron ousted, back to 1943 law

XXth Century New Education Law Peronist Education Law mandatory religion Last Coup d’etat New Peronist Education law, no more religion Falkland’s war Return of Democracy 1955 Peron ousted, back to 1943 law

XXth Century New Education Law Peronist Education Law mandatory religion Last Coup d’etat New Peronist Education law, no more religion Falkland’s war Return of Democracy 1955 Peron ousted, back to 1943 law Constitution Reformed 1994

Constitution Changed No more need to be Catholic in order to be president. State still supports the catholic church… (Article 2)

XXth Century New Education Law Peronist Education Law mandatory religion Last Coup d’etat New Peronist Education law, no more religion Falkland’s war Return of Democracy 2006 New Federal Education law 1955 Peron ousted, back to 1943 law Constitution Reformed 1994

New Federal education law (N° ) Even if the law has a new take on education, promoting digital education AND making secondary education mandatory for the first time. It creates a big loophole, it doesn’t state that there can NOR that there cannot be religious education as part of the curricula. It does state that “the right of having one’s children be educated at an institute where one’s religious convictions are represented” (article 128, part c).

XXth Century New Education Law Peronist Education Law mandatory religion Last Coup d’etat New Peronist Education law, no more religion Falkland’s war Return of Democracy 2006 New Federal Education law 2008 Salta passes religious education Law 1955 Peron ousted, back to 1943 law Constitution Reformed 1994

December 2008: Law 7546 In december 2008, the Salta State Congress passed the Law 7546, stating that: Article 8, part m: The state will garantee that every public pupil will receive religious education acording to his convictions. Article 27: “It is a function of public and private schools to: Provide religious education, which will be a necessary part of every curricula.

Religious “Liberty” Law Cynthia Hotton, member of Congress, represents the religious “Evangelist” community

Judge Argibay, the last step forward First Atheist Supreme Court judge.

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