Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero is to see the Papal Nuncio, Mgr Manuel Monteiro de Castro, to ask him to intervene to stop the Spanish Bishops "campaigning" as he sees it, in the forthcoming elections, according to an article in today's Times. (Vatican told to stop bishops ‘meddling’ in Spain’s election)
In a paper setting out "moral guidance", the Bishops have criticised various policies of the present Government, including the legalisation of gay marriage, the liberalisation of divorce and the introduction of citizenship classes in schools. The Times article summarises the Bishops' paper by saying that "they effectively directed Spaniards to vote against the Government and in favour of the conservative Popular Party."
You could just as well say that by introducing such policies, the Government has indicated that it does not wish to have the support of Catholics. By drawing the attention of their flock to the implications of these policies, the Bishops are doing their duty before God. They appear quite prepared to accept the consequences.
7 comments:
So, it's okay to oppose the church as long as the church does not oppose you? Forget it!!
Dear Fr. Tim,
First off, I must thank you for following a bit what's happening in Spain. It's always a pleasure to feel understood by fellow catholics from abroad.
Then, I have to say that Zapatero has been dealing in absolutes ever since he got into power. He's been totally supportive towards the establishment of the Gay "marriage" in Spanish. Millions of Catholic families went to Madrid to protest. They were unheard.
Then, earlier this year, it was discovered that several abortion clinics didn't even matched the current law (that permits abortion as long as several conditions are met, which is still barbaric). The debate within the Socialist Party was frightening: "maybe we need to... you know, legalize it fully".
In this context, the Bishops organized a huge meeting "for the Family" in a centric Madrid Square. That Sunday over 1 million attended it, and the most "left wing" movements of the Church (not just traditionalists), backed up their bishops and complained publicly on how Zapatero was issuing policies against them...
So, no wonder they're nervous. No wonder the socialists want us to shut up, but this is a proving time for the Church in Spain, and that's something the Nuncio knows very well. If the Bishops say "don't vote for this guy" doesn't mean they are encouraging the Popular Party (whose lines of governance are liberal, not exclusively catholic).
Anyway, Father... We need your prayers on March 9th, because we cannot afford to have Zapatero in charge again. Some would say that with the opposing party things will just slow down a bit, but that's a whole new story. If the PP wins, doesn't mean the Catholics need to shut up...
Zapatero's party, the Socialists, are ahead in the current polls. The election is on March 9th (St Frances of Rome, who helped the poor and sick. A true socialist.)
I think that the only thing that Zapatero might understand is an official excommunication, just to let him know that what he is insisting on is contrary to the will of God. No doubt he won't like that either but it would show him just what poison is in the air as regards his insisting on these anti-Catholic views.
JARay
Fr. Tim,
I join my friend Miguel in thanking you for bringing up this issue. Unlike him, however, I do not think things are going to change much even if the socialists are ousted from power in Spain. The leader of the opposition party has made cristal clear that he is not going to change any existing laws on the family (including gay "marriages"), life (he is a supporter of the current abortion law) or divorce (the socialist government recently introduced key changes to the existing law making the whole process substantially swifter than what it already was and the opposition party supports those changes).
In any case the Spanish bishops basically cut and pasted their previous note on the matter. Media in Spain particularly those closer to the party currently in power have been oblivious to the fact that the bishops have not changed their stance one bit from when the opposition party was in power. All the hype really amounts to a storm in a teacup useful for hiding less positive news for the current government.
For those who can read Spanish the Valencia branch of the Carlist Communion (a catholic political organization in Spain) has been patiently and carefully compiling a long list of all the attacks the current government has levied against the Catholic Church. It can be found here.
Many thanks, Miguel and the Ambassador.
Rest assured that we will pray for these 'fallen' politicians and political situation in Spain to return to its true Catholic roots. The gates of hell WILL NOT prevail against the Church - we have this eternal promise and assurance. God Bless the Catholic Bishops and faithful clergy of Spain and God Bless the ordinary people who love Jesus, their Catholic Faith and true family values who continue with courage to oppose the Zapatero forces of the evil one. You will win the day my friends - the sands of time are littered with the bones of 'forgotten' tyrants like Zapatero. He and his secular cronies are already history.
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