<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Christian democracy is a political ideology that emerged in nineteenth - century Europe under the influence of Catholic social teaching, as well as Neo-Calvinism . Christian democratic political ideology advocates for a commitment to social market principles and qualified interventionism . It was conceived as a combination of modern democratic ideas and traditional Christian values, incorporating the social teachings espoused by the Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, and Pentecostal traditions in various parts of the world . After World War II, the Protestant and Catholic movements of the Social Gospel and Neo-Thomism, respectively, played a role in shaping Christian democracy . Christian democracy continues to be influential in Europe and Latin America, although it is also present in other parts of the world . </P> <P> In practice, Christian democracy is often considered centre - right on cultural, social, and moral issues (and is thus a supporter of social conservatism), and it is considered centre - left "with respect to economic and labor issues, civil rights, and foreign policy" as well as the environment . Specifically, with regard to its fiscal stance, Christian democracy advocates a social market economy . In Europe, where Christian democrats defined their views as an alternative to the more leftist ideology of social democracy, Christian democratic parties are moderately conservative and centre - right overall, whereas in the very different cultural and political environment of North and South America they tend to lean to the left in economic issues and to the right in social issues . </P>

The christian democrats in western europe in the 1950s