Church in the World

Law to make way for non-Catholic voices

Spain

Spain's Socialist Government has announced plans to reform the Law of Religious Liberty to give a greater voice to secularists and other non-Catholics.

The deputy prime minister, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, last week told the Spanish parliament that the Government wanted to "advance secularism in the [Spanish] Constitution". Ms Fernández de la Vega said the Government would reform the 1980 law to bring it up to date with the "religious pluralism" of today. However, she was reluctant to be more specific, simply hinting that the reformed law should establish greater guarantees of conscience for agnostics and followers of non-Catholic faiths.

The move was immediately condemned by two cardinals. The Archbishop of Toledo, Antonio Cañizares, told his congregation at last Sunday's Mass that the Government wanted  to "eradicate our own Christian people". He added that the Government was trying to promote secularism to exclude religion altogether. "We find ourselves immersed in a great cultural revolution where God plays no part," he said. Cardinal Agustín García-Gasco, Archbishop of Valencia, said: "Man is a social being and the faith has a community dimension, so it's inconceivable a believer is obliged to renounce his faith to be an active citizen."

Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, head of the Spanish bishops' conference, said he would not comment until after a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on 19 May.

Mariano Rajoy, leader of the conservative opposition Popular Party, said: "This debate will only contribute to the general division between Spaniards." But Protestants, Jews and Muslims greeted the prospective reforms more positively. Félix Herrero, president of the Federation of Islamic Groups, said it was unfortunate the present legislation did not allow equal rights for all confessions.