euro|topics - Beatification divides Spain

Main focus of Monday, October 29, 2007

Beatification divides Spain

On Sunday October 28th, Pope Benedict XVI beatified 498 members of the Church who were assassinated during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). They were given the status of 'blessed' in the biggest mass of its kind in the history of the Catholic Church. This event is reviving the polemic in Spain concerning the memory of the war and of Franco's dictatorship.

La Vanguardia - Spain

"The ceremony on Sunday October 28th happened at a significant moment", notes the Spanish daily. "This day marked the 25th anniversary of the first big electoral victory obtained by the PSOE [Spanish socialist party], as this very same party is now governing Spain and defending radically secular positions which have provoked serious tension with the Vatican and the clergy. ... After inflamed debate in Parliament, the socialist majority is on the point of passing a law on historical memory that favours republican legitimacy. Despite the polemics and tensions imposed by this tragic past, this is perhaps the best time for remembrance. The State should honour the memory of all those who were killed, without exception, without sectarianism, with dignity. ... Mutual recognition and mutual forgiveness pave the path that Spain should follow once and for all." (28/10/2007)

La Libre Belgique - Belgium

Christian Laporte ponders the Catholic Church's attitude towards Franco's regime. "We had to wait for a Polish Pope for the Catholic Church to honour those who chose Franco's side. Neither Jean XXIII, nor Paul VI, nor Pie XII wanted to hurry things. According to historians the latter Pope was not the least bit reticent towards Franco's regime... while Paul VI quite simply ordered the suspension of the beatification process and the canonisation that had been begun. The wind had turned under Jean-Paul II: less than four years after investing Saint Pierre's throne, he announced to Spanish archbishops that he was going to make up for lost time. Better still he was going to do everything in his power to canonise Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, the founder of Opus Dei who had clearly chosen Franco's side, despite it must be said, some of its members suffering in turn from Franco's excessive nationalism." (26/10/2007)

La Stampa - Italy

The journalist and writer Lorenzo Mondo considers the beatification of the Spanish martyrs. "The 498 Spaniards ... who were beatified on October 28th by the Pope represent the tip of the iceberg of the anti-religious persecution that killed at least seven thousand people between 1934 an 1936. We are led to remember the abominable massacre of a civil war that tore apart Europe's conscience. Especially as the Zapatero government is adopting a law on historical memory to honour republican victims. Of foremost importance is the crucial freedom that everyone has to raise their dead without resorting to political exploitation. ... The massacre's death count can represent a pious testimony to the dead and redemption for those of good faith who escaped ignominy. It cannot be used to celebrate a dark page of history that nobody can honestly glorify." (29/10/2007)

Diário de Notícias - Portugal

The Lisbon daily considers that "As in any conflict, atrocities were committed on both sides, republican and nationalist. During Franco's dictatorship, History demonized the republicans. But as of 1975, as Spain became democratic, academics started to do their work. The fruit of this work, numerous books on the Civil War have appeared allowing the Spanish to judge events of the time for themselves. With the passing of generations, we had hoped to see the wounds of the Civil War heal. But today confrontation is in the air with Zapatero's government imposing a Law on Historical Memory, exalting the republicans while the Spanish Church is beatifying 'martyrs' to denounce the old anticlerical fury." (29/10/2007)

» To the complete press review of Monday, October 29, 2007

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