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The pillarization of Dutch society is a much-studied phenomenon. Generally, four theories explain the rise of this societal constellation: emancipation of religious minorities, protection of religious minorities, modernization and mobilization, and pacification of minorities’ interests. This paper evaluates these four theories with the case of the social activists of Berne Abbey. This abbey is part of the Norbertine order and between 1890 and 1940, it hosted four priests who were deeply engaged in the social question, particularly concerning farmers, small entrepreneurs and employers. They founded and organized catholic professional organizations and cooperations for members, and ultimately contributed to catholic corporative society in the Netherlands. The conclusion is that before 1906-1916 – when bishops ordered exclusively catholic organizations – emancipation thesis is valid, but after that period the protection thesis. Also: for members modernization thesis can explain the case, but for leaders in the movement, social pacification was an important motivation. The pillar was not a monolith, and originated in reaction to external and internal tensions.

Organized religion can be found at places that are normally closed for ordinary people. Representatives of this religion are active in care institutions, in the army and in prisons. This however creates tensions between the professional norms of these institutions on the one hand, and the norms of the religion on the other. Recently, four publications appeared that address these questions. First, Gärtner considers the religious activity in these non-church surroundings as exemplary for religion in high modernity. Second, the dissertation of Huyzer discusses the role of official church ministry in care institutions, a role which is not taken for granted. The book of Van Iersel, third, shows that the social teaching of the church can be of help to make relevant the role of the churches in spiritual care at the military institutions. Finally, the volume of Eyk et al. about spiritual care in prisons makes clear that institutional care needs the church office and the parish structures outside the institution. The conclusion is that exactly this last aspect has been neglected in most studies, and that spiritual care in institutions cannot be disconnected from religious organization outside these institutions.