Catholic politician confident Spanish church, state can solve dispute

Published: 2004-12-03

BARCELONA, Spain (CNS) -- The Catholic leader of a Christian group within Spain's ruling Socialist Party has said he is optimistic that the Spanish bishops could resolve their dispute with the government over social and educational policies. "Yes, I think there is hope. In the last couple of weeks, I've picked up on attempts by the bishops and the Socialist government to take the heat out of the situation," Carlos Garcia de Andoin, leader of Christians for Socialism, told Catholic News Service. Garcia de Andoin called for the creation of a joint church-government commission to foster dialogue and understanding between the church hierarchy and government ministers. Since their election victory in March, the ruling Socialists have drafted a range of new social policies that include allowing homosexual couples to marry. The policy plans have provoked a series of bitter exchanges between the bishops' conference and the government. On various occasions in November, church leaders, including Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela of Madrid, warned that Spain is at risk from "secular fundamentalism" and that the Spanish church was being "persecuted." The Socialist Party secretary, Jose Blanco, meanwhile, had described the church's social thinking as "moth-eaten." However, Cardinal Rouco and Blanco have since struck a more conciliatory tone.

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