Introduction

Abstract

In the years between the end of the First World War and the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council (1965) there was a coherent and determined attempt by sections of the Catholic community, both laity and clergy, to redefine the character of the whole of the intellectual culture of Catholicism in Scotland. Through initiatives in politics, piety and in areas concerning national identity, Catholics sought to change not only the public image of the church but also the internal dynamics of the community and the institution of the Roman Catholic Church. There was no single grand project for the remaking of Catholicism: at different times and through different groups and different means, aspects of Catholicism were highlighted and then refashioned to suit changing circumstances and priorities. However, there is enough in the way of similarities both in outlook and in objectives to regard these distinctive changes as part of a whole movement to change the overall identity of Catholicism in Scotland.