As Spanish government leaders continue to criticize the country's bishops for their stance on public affairs, the Bishop of Palencia has issued his own statement defending the bishops' right to involve themselves in civil debates.Rejecting the notion that the bishops have become partisan political activists, Bishop José Ignacio Munilla said that the hierarchy asks only for "freedom and respect to propose our own vision, without anyone feeling threatened."
A statement issued by the Spanish episcopal conference last week makes no reference to political parties, the bishop observed.
Although the Socialist government leadership has charged that the bishops have joined with the opposition, Bishop Munilla explained that the statement was only "a declaration of solid moral principles, making no specific reference of anyone."
Reiterating the fundamental message of the disputed statement from the episcopal conference, Bishop Munilla said that Catholic voters should take into account the clear precepts of Church social teaching, including "respect for human life from conception to natural death, legal protection for marriage, support for families and the right to choose moral education for the children, immovable opposition to terrorist blackmail, distinguishing between healthy and perverse secularism."
He went on to mention sympathy for immigrants, efforts to promote world peace, defense of women's dignity, and work to ensure adequate housing for all citizens. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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