The unacknowledged presence of Catholicism in secularized Dutch society

The case of spiritual care

Abstract

This chapter addresses the impact of Catholicism in secularized Dutch society, focusing on the sociogenesis of spiritual care, while acknowledging the decay of the religious field as such, in the past decades.  The central thesis is that, even where solid structures have melted, practices such as those originating in pastoral care, have been continued in a secular environment. The empirical findings are followed by suggestions about how to evaluate these findings from a theological perspective.