Sob ventos de mudança: o impacto do Concílio Vaticano II na oposição dos católicos «progressistas» ao Estado Novo português (1965-1974). (Under winds of change: the impact of Vatican II in the catholic opposition to "Estado Novo” in Portugal (1965-1974)

The relationship between the Catholic Church and the Estado Novo was a very close one. Nevertheless, in the sixties, a sector of the Catho lic Church began parting from the government's prime directives, in particular the on es concerning the colonial policy, becoming protagonist of actions against the war and the regi me's dictatorial character. The winds of change provoked by Vatican II that, at the time, ra n through the Holy See were not indifferent to the whole situation, being related to the Portug uese Catholic opposition chronologically, tactically and ideologically speaking. In fact, the Portuguese Catholics could not stay indifferent to the reflections motivated by documen ts as the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes or the previous encyclical Pacem in Terris , that were perfectly adapted to the national situation. The Church's and the Portuguese colonial policy's opposing guidelines made some Catholics to make a stand, preventing them of "serv ing two masters".