Spanish bishops pledge cooperation with Socialist government

Published: 2008-03-12

MADRID, Spain (CNS) -- Spain's Catholic bishops have pledged to cooperate with the newly re-elected Socialist government, but a cardinal warned the church would oppose secularizing reforms. In a March 10 statement, the bishops' conference said its president, Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela of Madrid, and secretary-general, Auxiliary Bishop Juan Martinez Camino of Madrid, had written to congratulate Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on his March 9 election victory. "We assure you of our prayers that the Lord will grant you his light and strength in carrying out the important responsibilities commended to you by the Spanish people in the service of peace, justice, freedom and the common good of all citizens," they said. "Likewise, we express our personal willingness and that of the bishops' conference to collaborate sincerely with the legitimate state authorities in order better to serve the common good." The Madrid-based bishops' conference press office told Catholic News Service March 12 there would be no further church statements or declarations after the elections, in which Zapatero's Socialist Party gained nearly 44 percent of the votes.

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