Administrators from the University of Barcelona, Spain have announced
that its weekly Wednesday Mass will be suspended due to protests by a
group of self-proclaimed “secular progressive” students.
The university stated that no more Masses will be celebrated “until
the university can guarantee the security of students who wish to attend
the liturgy.”
At the beginning of November, shortly before Pope Benedict XVI’s
visit to Barcelona, a group of “secular progressive” students tried to
boycott one of the university Masses, reported the Spanish newspaper
ABC.
Police then began providing security at the chapel.
On Dec. 15, some 40 students interrupted Mass at the chapel. Fr.
Mosen Lluis Ramos, one of the university chaplains said, “It is sad that
these kinds of boycotts” are taking place because they “prevent people
from freely expressing their beliefs, and this must not be allowed.”
“What happens here on many Wednesdays has no justification,” he told ABC.
Officials have decided to build a direct entrance to the campus
chapel as a security measure for Catholics who wish to attend Mass
without being berated and assaulted by anti-Christian groups on their
way.
The university has maintained an agreement with the Archdiocese of
Barcelona since 1988.
The agreement ensures that an area on campus can
be used for Catholic liturgies.
“Article 18 of the Law on Human Rights and our own Constitution guarantee this right for citizens,” Fr. Ramos added.
In the wake of the decision to suspend Mass, the university now
screens those who wish to enter the chapel.
Catholics must identify
themselves and ask permission from university administrators.
Despite
these measures, some professors say they have not been allowed access to
the chapel.
The anti-Catholic group on campus is made up of some 40 students and a
handful of professors.
“They have gotten the administration to do
whatever they want so far. First they got the chapel closed and then
they made it difficult to go there to pray. It’s intolerable,” said one
professor who asked not to be named.
SIC: CNA/INT'L