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An investigation is made into the nature of the 1834-76 struggle between the Roman Catholic Church in Spain and the Spanish Liberal party. The condition of the Church--as it had evolved under the Old Regime--is analyzed. And then, the Spanish Liberal party's assault on the Church's privileged status and subsequent rationale for its actions is presented. Following that, the Catholic reaction to this development--especially that of the Catholic Right--is examined; and its influence upon the evolution of conservative Catholicism in Spain throughout those years is assessed. It is shown that all of these events produced a situation whereby the Catholic Church's ability to adjust to some form of political pluralism which would be acceptable to a majority of the Spanish liberals was hampered. Yet, the Liberal party itself had to create a political atmosphere which would not totally alienate the Church while at the same time maintaining a respectable level of liberal advance.