[1][2] When faced with a Morales policy that they disagreed with, such as the proposed secularization, liberalization, and modernization of schools, the Catholic bishops of Bolivia were able to inspire massive demonstrations against the measures.
"[6] The special status that used to be given to Catholicism in Bolivia can be seen in Article 3 of the former Bolivian Constitution (1967), which says, "The State recognizes and sustains the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Religion.
[3] On June 18, 2006, the Archbishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Cardinal Julio Terrazas, addressed rumors being spread by some parliamentary candidates that the Catholic Church was demanding to be made the official religion of Bolivia.
[7] He noted that the bishops were receptive to notions of reviewing the Bolivian Constitution's article which granted special recognition to the role of Catholicism.
Freddy del Villar, Vicar General of the Coroicu Diocese in Bolivia, said that the Catholic Church was keeping observant concerning the socialist Morales government and was still reserving judgment on the upcoming revision to the Bolivian Constitution.
They also insisted that the government squash any suggestions toward amending Article 3 in the Bolivian Constitution, which officially recognized Roman Catholicism.
"[14] Auxiliary Bishop Luis Saenz of Cochabamba called on Catholics to protest: "Bolivia is a country of one people devoted to the one true God and his Blessed Mother.
"[13] He defined what he thought was the proper role of the government saying, "The state and the institutions of civil society can contribute, in a democratic atmosphere, to people choosing the best educational model for the integral and critical formation of persons.
"[13] In June 2006, a spokeswoman for the Bolivian Bishops’ Committee on Education demanded that the Morales administration clarify its position on religious instruction in state schools.
[16] She took issue with Patzi labeling the current system as "colonialist," saying he "is ignoring the Church’s contribution to culture, education, health care, and development in Bolivia.
She accused the Morales administration of having an anti-faith bias and having an issue with the faith of Catholic Bolivians, which make up 80% of the population, rather than the Church itself.
[16] Responding to Patzi's comments, the Archbishop of Santa Cruz, Cardinal Julio Terrazas Sandoval, called for Bolivian Catholics to defend their faith.
This is the basis for helping to form a family that is much more united in the cause of the kingdom of justice and peace and to build a country that is not in constant turmoil.
[17] On July 23, 2006, Bolivia's Cardinal Julio Terrazas told Catholics they needed to stop being "passive" and defend the faith.
[18] Morales explained his comments to reporters, saying: "I want to ask the (church) hierarchies that they understand freedom of religion and beliefs in our country.
[20] Bishop Sainz demanded the Morales administration "clarify and come up with a consensus about the concept of secular education so that there are no longer any doubts.
[18] While Patzi had stated that the policy would only go into effect after its consideration by the Bolivian Parliament, after the Educational Congress approved the measure he declared that its conclusions "were binding and would be implemented immediately.
[18] Archbishop Tito Solari described the Morales administration's actions at the event as operating "in a Communist fashion" and claimed that "the government [had] imposed its ideology without any room for dialogue.
"[1] In June 2006, Félix Patzi incurred organizational opposition against the Morales government's declaration that "Catholicism would no longer be 'the official' religion taught at schools.
"[1][17] He said he would end the policy that made Catholic religious classes obligatory for students, and called the existing system "colonial".
[22] The calls by the Catholic hierarchy to resist Morales’ policy against sectarian religious classes in state schools caused a dip in his popularity.
[23] On July 30, 2006, after a two-and-a-half-hour conference in Cochabamba with Cardinal Julio Terrazas, Morales ended the dispute by reversing his stance and backing away from the proposal.
The Associated Press reported that in a joint statement that had discussed diversity of religion but did not provide a way to deviate from predominant Catholic curriculum that is already taught in Bolivian state schools.
Both men came to the consensus that both the Morales administration and the Church would retain the religious classes while also taking into consideration the diversity of religion within the country.
[24] Bolivian Bishops previously opposed Morales's attempts to extend his presidency saying it "opens the doors to totalitarianism to the imposition of authority by force.
"[25] In response, Adhemar Valda, high-ranking member of the Movement for Socialism, said that the clergymen exist "in the same vein as the US State Department.