'kultuRkamp' is german meaning 'conflict of cultures': the conflict between the german government under bismarck and the roman catholic church. The promulgation (1870) of the dogma of the infaIlibility of the pope in matters of faith and morals within the church sparked the conflict; it implied that the pope was the defender of the church against incursions by states.

The German bishops and most lay Catholics supported this dogma. Bismarck, who was anxious to strengthen the central power of the new German Empire, feared the strongly organized church, which found it's political voice in the Catholic Center party (organized 1870).in 1987 bismarck eased his sanctions because of political oppresion and the death of pope leo xii.