Madrid, May 28th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Control, but the same for everyone, and within the law. That appears to be the general reaction to the government’s suggestion on strengthening the national Register of preachers and clergy.

Concern over radical Islamic imams is the driving force behind the moves, given that the mastermind behind the Madrid terrorist bombings had earlier preached in a mosque in the Spanish capital. Most experts consider the Law on Religious Liberty to be sound, perhaps the best in Europe, and are concerned that the freedom to worship as and when each person wishes be protected, in line with the Constitution.

Riay Tatary, Chairman of the Union of Islamic Communities, says such a register of mosques and imams in Spain already exists, and comments that he fears the new controls would only apply to Muslims. He adds that he would be in favour of the Register if it applied to all religious groups. However, he does not favour altering the Law, which he considers sound and the fruit of a consensus, and believes stricter control of mosques both untenable and unconstitutional.

Abdelkarim Carrasco, Chairman of the Federation of Islamic Religious Organisations, agrees that attempts to control the content of sermons is unpracticable, but does suggest that a Register of mosques ­ currently optional ­ be made compulsory. He also believes a degree in Islamic Studies be offered at universities, so that imams can be trained in the society in which they are going to be operating.

Mariano Blázquez, Executive Secretary of the FEREDE, the evangelical organisation which negotiates with the government on behalf of the Protestant community, says that any controls should begin with the Catholic Church. “There are 22,000 parish churches and not one of them is registered.” Yet most mosques and evangelical churches are registered. Blázquez comments that “what concerns me is that religion be used to kill.” He adds that the law covers the issue of religious violence, and that it would be a shame to modify “the best Law of Religious Liberty in Europe.”

Jacobo Israel Garzón, Chairman of the Jewish Federation in Spain, said he was happy for the government to impose whatever controls it deemed necessary, as long as they applied to all groups equally, but added that he did not believe that anyone would think that Jews or Christians would do anything undemocratic. “Not all religions are the same and one must punish with the law those who incite violence, whether they be Muslims, Jews or Christians.”

It remains to be seen whether the government will proceed with the idea of registering places of worship and those who preach in them. Specialists in Ecclesiastical Law recommend a broad consultation before making a final decision, given the ‘hybrid’ nature of the Commission responsible for putting suggestions to the Department of Religious Affairs.

Sant Feliu de Guíxols, May 29th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
A court near Barcelona has withdrawn passports from three Gambian girls and ordered the police not to issue any to them until they come of age.

The legal decision also requires the girls’ parents to take them to a gynaecologist for a check-up every six months to ensure they have not suffered ‘female circumcision’. The Gambian Consul in Barcelona has complained that the decision is illegal as it denies the right of free movement, as well as making the parents out to be criminals. He has also criticised the process by which doctors become, in effect, police officers combatting this practice. 

The court’s decision seeks to save the three girls from the same fate as their two older sisters, who had their clitoris removed on a trip to Gambia. The Commission against Domestic Violence in Girona tries to offer alternative preventative medical care.

Madrid, May 29th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
This year is the centenary of the birth of the eccentric artist, Salvador Dali (1904-1989). A.C.Press’s Arts correspondent, José de Segovia, has written an article examining the spirituality which coursed through the life of this singular character, who lived between faith in God and fear of death.

The last pictures of Dali were of him seated in a wheelchair in a hospital, being tube-fed through his nose, crying ‘Geniuses have no right to die. I want to live, I want to live!’ Like Picasso, Dali could not face the idea of dying, saying ‘I would prefer to paint bad pictures and live longer.’ In the 1950s, Dali apparently went through a more spiritual phase, but suspiciously it coincided with his return to Franco’s Spain. His famous painting of Christ dates from 1951, in which he sought consciously to reproduce the style of the painters he so admired, like Velázquez and Vermeer.

Yet his religiosity is a mere veneer, as can be seen by the fact that this period also saw some of his most provocative work. Dali spent the last 4 years of his life shut up in a room looking at one of his major pieces which symbolised his search for paradise. His great fear is that he would not go to heaven; “I believe in God but I haven’t got faith. That’s why I fear I’ll die and not go to heaven.”

De Segovia argues that Dali’s dilemma is that of all men as shown by Romans 1; we know God exists so we are without excuse, but we do not worship Him. Dali gave his heart to a creature instead of to the Creator.

Madrid, May 29th, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The so-called king of sports is, for many, a religion. Yet many footballers and others connected with the game name God as the King of their lives, rather than the sport from which they derive their living.

Gabriel Batistuta, an Argentinian player, says that Jesus is an example for him to follow, and that he has always had faith, even in the difficult moments of his life. Marcelo Salas, from Chile, has a personal spiritual advisor who helps him stay close to God. Salas says he believes in prayer and loves to talk to God before going to sleep. “Having a beautiful house or wealth are passing things. The important thing is to have faith in God.”

Javier Zanetti, who plays for Inter Milan, says “Being close to God means being a happy person. I am a strong believer, I experience His existence and love. Every second I feel God’s presence in my life. I would love to teach the youngsters the beauty of believing in God and the importance of taking responsibility for one’s own actions.”

The Nigerian player, Kanu, had heart problems in 1996 and people thought he would die. Yet a miraculous operation saved his life and he says he is a practising Christian. “You cannot base your life on football or success, nor on anything human, because when it fails, you are lost. Only God is eternal.” Kovacic, who once played in the Real Sociedad team, says he decided to give up football and devote himself more intensely to God. “I was earning lots of money but I was not at peace with myself. I’ve found a happiness greater than that which football could give me.”

The Belgian player, George Grun, lost a daughter in 1992. “I have been through a terrible tragedy and it is in faith that I have found strength, courage and hope to go on. In God I’ve found the meaning of life, because life for humans goes on even when you lose a little daughter. Life does not end here on Earth. It is that certainty which has given me the courage to carry on. I have discovered God’s love even in that tragedy.”

Brazil is home to what is probably the largest community of Christian footballers, many of whom now play in Europe. It was in Brazil where the organisation ‘Athletes for Christ’ began. Marco Antonio Senna, who plays in Spain for Villarreal, says: “I try and give my testimony, even though my teammates are resistant to the faith. I know I am here for something, that I have a mission to fulfil. The Christian door is narrow; believing in God is easy, but living out the Word correctly is difficult.”

Madrid, June 1st, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The International Policy Secretary of the ruling Socialist Party, Trinidad Jiménez, says she is in favour of Muslims having access to public funding in the same way as other faiths.

Jiménez believes the move would help Spanish Islamic communities operate independently, presumably in a reference to unhealthy overseas aid which has seen the establishment of a number of radical imams in Spanish mosques. She added that through a process of dialogue and cooperation, agreement can be reached. The actual process will have to be determined once it is known how the Register of Islamic entities is to be compiled.

An Islamic spokesman, Riay Tatary, said public aid would obviate the need to seek alternative sources to finance their activities, in an attempt to put pressure on the government at a time of great sensitivity regarding the actions of Islamic radicals. Muslim leaders once again stressed their claim that Islam is a peaceful religion, and that it respects the constitutional right of religious freedom in Spain.

Jiménez, for the Socialists, commented that a Register of religious groups and clerics would also guarantee freedom of worship.

Madrid, June 1st, 2004 (ACPress.net).
For the first time since 1998, the Catholic Church has registered an increase in its tax revenue, from the deductions upon tax returns which may be designated either to Rome or to ‘other charitable purposes (NGOs).

The Spanish tax year has just ended, and 34.3% of taxpayers put the Catholic Church down as their chosen recipient of the percentage allowed to be donated to charity. This was 1% up on the previous year, a small rise, but a significant shift after the financial shares scandal which rocked the Catholic Church in Spain 2 years ago.

However, the alternative option ­ giving the money to non-governmental charitable organisations ­ also enjoyed a rise in popularity, as fewer and fewer people leave the square blank on their tax returns. 0.52% of a person’s tax can be designated in this way, while 11.6% gave double, 0.52% to each of the two options. 44.4% opted for the social choice of other charities, some of which are Catholic in inspiration and ethos. Yet the money actually donated makes more in the Catholic Church option, which raked in 105.9 million euros this year, whereas the charities ­ this year, 843 projects run by 321 organisations - collected 115.2 million euros.

Madrid, June 1st, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The royal wedding held recently in Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, when Prince Felipe was joined in matrimony with ex-TV newsreader Letizia Ortiz, was marked by Protestant music but Catholic words.

Bach and Handel were prominent in the choice of music, but the whole celebration was markedly Roman in form. The lengthy and highly ritualistic ceremony included constant references to the superstitions and heresies of traditional Catholicism, such as the reiterated allusion to the mediation and blessings of saints and Mary, or the apocryphal reading from Tobias. There were also long sung prayers by the officiating cleric, Archbishop Rouco-Varela, and communion for the couple and their guests (many of whom were Protestants, such as evangelical historian and regular ACPress.net contributor, César Vidal).

The Lord’s Prayer was said in Latin, which would have pleased Mel Gibson (though not invited to the wedding), but was probably not understood by most present, be they Spanish or from elsewhere. The wedding dragged on for nearly 3 hours and was followed by the traditional ­ though nonetheless depressing ­ spectacle of giving the bride’s bouquet to a statue (located in a different church) known as the ‘Virgin of Atocha’, which sounds like it has something to do with the main railway station in Madrid. In fact, they would have almost certainly missed their train had they been due to catch one, as this flowery ceremony lasted nearly another hour on top of the three taken at the Cathedral.

Yet one must be grateful for small mercies in this ‘arranged’ wedding whereby a divorcée could be declared ‘single’ by the Catholic Church, and both the entrance and departure music was provided by Protestant composer, George Frederich Handel. Bach’s Cantata number 69 was played during the signing of the register. And the undoubted highlight was the present to the couple from the Spanish gypsy community; a Bible in old Spanish, with a leather cover and embossed in gold, a reproduction of a 1569 edition.                                                                                       

Madrid, June 2nd, 2004 (ACPress.net).
The European Observatory of Children’s Television (EUCT) says Spanish networks break European law by showing violence between 6am and 10pm. They estimate that children and youngsters see at least 2,000 violent scenes a year.

Three out of ten under-age viewers have a TV in their bedroom and spend an average of 1,000 hours in front of the screen, which is 30 hours more than they spend at school. The EUCT calls on Spanish television stations to tighten up on what they show during the day, and offer news programmes specially aimed at the young. What they have in mind are 10-minute slots which younger children could watch with their parents. The aim is to change the children from passive watchers who swallow everything they see, into active, critical viewers. Such programmes have been broadcast in England by the BBC for more than 30 years.

Barcelona, June 2nd, 2004 (ACPress.net).
Spanish men might disagree, but the United Nations thinks women still suffer discrimination here, and has called on Spain to protect them, and also the rights of immigrants.

The call came in the form of recommendations from the Social and Cultural section of the UN, and asks the Spanish government to speed up the legalisation of immigrants without papers. It also claims that women participate too little in decision-making and in the labour market, as well as criticising the rise in female fatalities caused by domestic violence.

The document homes in on these two issues, saying there are around a million illegal immigrants in Spain, accusing the authorities of not giving them sufficient legal protection, though quite why Spain should simply open its doors to all and sundry is not made clear. Begoña Sánchez, who works for the group ‘SOS Racism’, says immigrant children are particularly open to abuse, and should be treated as children before they are treated as immigrants. Illegal foreign workers are open to exploitation, she claims. As for women in the workplace, the United Nations can only offer the rather hackneyed solution of more nurseries for the under-threes.