The role of the Catholic Church in conflict resolution

Transcription

1 The role of the Catholic Church in conflict resolution Unfortunately, when we look at the role of the Catholic Church, in conflict resolution we are surprised because its lack of dialogue. It does not tolerate people that dissent from its doctrine. Furthermore, the Catholic Church creates a lot of social conflict. THE MIDDLE AGES As all we know, during the Middle Ages the Crusades proclaimed war against the infidel Turk in the name of God. In Spain, at the end of Middle Ages, the Catholic Monarchs (Isabel I de Castilla y Fernando V de Aragón) united the various kingdoms to form the present Spain. The Spanish Inquisition or Tribunal del Santo Oficio de la Inquisición was founded in 1478 by them to keep Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms. In 1492 the Alhambra Decree or Granada Edict was published, which obliged Spanish Jews to convert to Catholicism. If they did not want to do so they would be expelled from Spain and they were not allowed to take their gold, silver, money, arms and horses with them. This decree was created by Tomás de Torquemada, a priest, General Inquisitor in Spain. Disobedience to this decree meant the death sentence and the confiscation of all possessions. At the same time the Spanish Conquest of Central and South America was done in the name of God with the cooperation of Spanish Church. The killings, the

2 slavery and forced religious conversion of the indigenous population were constant in the new conquered territories. Hernando Del Pulgar, a historic chronicler, was surprised that ten years after the Spanish Inquisition was installed, people had been burned at the stake and had been obliged to convert to Catholicism. Until 1834 the Spanish Inquisition was not abolished. The number of victims during 350 years was never counted but, many books, paintings and objects remind us of the reign of terror in the name of the true faith.

3 20TH CENTURY. In our recent history, the Catholic Church has continued its crusade against heresy... Por el Imperio hacia Dios This slogan was very important in Spanish post war period and it meant that Spain had been designed to be the new EMPIRE OF CHRISTIANS. In that period everything was done in the name of God... In 1953 Franco and the Vatican signed a treaty: Franco s dictatorship only accepted the Catholic religion as the only religious doctrine. He could elect the bishops, march under canopy, coins would include the slogan Franco, leader of Spain by the grace of god... and the Spanish Church obtained money from the Spanish State, a situation which still remains today, and this is Tax free! Teachers had to go through a tough purification process and had to promise to be supporters of the "National-Catholic Movement". The Catholic religion became a compulsory subject in every school. FROM THE END OF FRANCO S DICTATORSHIP UNTIL NOWADAYS. Despite the fact that the Spanish Constitution declares that Spain is a secular society, the Spanish Church interferes in affairs of state because it doesn t want to lose its economic privilege. Below we show a collection of some of the statements made by members of the Catholic ecclesiastical hierarchy in the last few years when a new law was going to be approved. A kind of statements which have created important conflicts and disputes among our civil society.

4 The Archbishop of Granada If a woman aborts, a man can rape her AIDS is an act of justice The Archbishop of Brussels The Archbishop of Segorbe-castellón Sexual education in schools exalts homosexuality

5 The Bishop of the prelature of Cancún-Chetumal We have to forgive priests who are pederast, they didn t know what they were doing. The bishop of San Cristobal de las Casas Eroticism impedes us from respecting children. Tenerife bishop about pederasty It is possible that under 18s consent it and in fact, they do. There are children of 13 who totally agree, even looking forward to it and they lead you on.

6 A month ago the Archbishop of Valladolid doubted if Soraya Sáenz, Vice President of the Spanish government, was a suitable person to announce the Easter period, since she got married in a civil registry office In the meantime, what does the Spanish Church do in view of these statements, the Terrorism, unemployment, or the serious economic problems we are suffering in Spain? Does it censor the use of force, usury (the practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest) or excommunicate bankers and speculators who waste public Money? Does it mediate between the government and important social movements as 11-M? Instead, the Spanish Church looks for other solutions. One of them is their slogan: Cross the box of the Church is to fight against crisis. With this slogan the Spanish Episcopal Conference informs taxpayers that marking the box in favor of the Church (on the income tax forms) helps the fight against the economic crisis. This is because of welfare services that this institution provides to the underprivileged. Another solution of the Spanish Church is to guarantee its continuity. The first law approved by the new Spanish government in last December has cut back on many rights (as freezing the minimum wage), but it gives 13 million euro to the Spanish Church every month and extra amount for public acts of exceptional interest (as the controversial visit of the Pope last year) In short, first I will solve my problem...and God will tell (Spanish saying)