Catholic Church, Liberalism, and Modernity: Religious Persecution and Political Legitimation of Freemasonry in Ecuador (1809–1925)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15517/wdrde109

Keywords:

Freemasonry; Ecuador; Catholic Church; liberalism; secularization; political modernity.

Abstract

 

This article analyzes the formation, persecution, and legitimization of Freemasonry in Ecuador (1809-1925) amidst the structural tension between the Catholic Church, the State, and Liberalism. Using a historical-documentary approach, it examines the transition from clandestinity within a confessional State to legal institutionalization following the Liberal Revolution. The study demonstrates how ecclesiastical doctrinal exclusion was overcome by organizational rearticulation and the legal recognition of Freemasonry in Ecuador. The Ecuadorian case reveals the influence of initiatic sociability on secularization and political modernity, providing a complex perspective on the relationship between religion and the State in Latin America.

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Author Biography

  • Israel Alejandro Murillo Calderon, R.·.L .·. S.·. G.·.W.·. #15

    Israel Murillo is a Petroleum Engineer and Operations and Safety Management professional specializing in industrial risk management, regulatory compliance, and operational optimization in the energy sector. He holds a Master’s degree in Operations and Quality Management from Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (Spain), and undergraduate degrees in Petroleum Engineering and Petroleum Technology from Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial (Ecuador). His academic background integrates safety engineering, risk assessment methodologies, and operational excellence applied to hydrocarbon supply chains.

     

    He currently serves as Chief Operations Officer at ACASA, where he leads the design, implementation, and supervision of operational, logistics, and safety strategies for energy storage and distribution systems. In parallel, he serves as a Scientific Researcher at the Research Data Alliance (RDA), conducting applied research on emerging fuels, refinery-scale operational energy efficiency, and data-driven approaches for industrial risk reduction.

     

    Previously, he worked as a Technical Specialist and District Director in Ecuadorian regulatory authorities responsible for hydrocarbon oversight and compliance assurance. In these roles, he coordinated multidisciplinary teams performing inspection, incident prevention, and infrastructure compliance evaluation in facilities handling LPG, liquid fuels, and refinery products. His professional experience includes the implementation of international safety standards, regulatory frameworks, and operational reliability programs in high-risk industrial environments.

     

    His recent scientific contributions include research on sour gas utilization as an alternative fuel in refinery systems, safety optimization in LPG distribution networks, and regulatory-based operational risk management. His article “Characterization and Experimental Evaluation of Sour Gas as an Alternative Fuel for Industrial Power Generation” was accepted by FIGEMPA: Investigación y Desarrollo. He is also the author of “Optimization of LPG Distribution in Ecuador through Safety Standards,” accepted for publication in ENERLAC – Journal of the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), and has served as an international speaker at the 3º Congresso Internacional de Pesquisadores e Acadêmicos da Ibero-América (DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.37811/cli_w1273).

     

    His professional development includes advanced technical training in China, Mexico, Brazil, and Chile in areas such as logistics, project evaluation, energy system design, and digital transformation for industrial environments. His expertise and research interests include industrial safety engineering, risk assessment and prevention, refinery energy systems, alternative fuels, operational reliability, and the application of international technical standards to enhance safety, sustainability, and regulatory compliance in energy systems.

     

    Affiliation:

    ACASA, Research Data Alliance (RDA), Ecuador.

     

    ORCID:

    https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3985-152X

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Published

2026-07-01

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 2 (2026): Vol. 18, no. 2, July-December 2026

Section

Articles (refereed)

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Copyright (c) 2026 Israel Alejandro Murillo Calderon (Autor/a)

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