Church row exposes splits in Spain before vote

When Spanish bishops advised Catholics on how to vote in tomorrow's election, Spaniards were reminded of the Church's one-time power, but also of how that power has waned.

The advice - seen as a direct swipe at the policies of the ruling Socialists - outraged some and rekindled memories of the Church's powerful role during the years of General Francisco Franco's dictatorship after the 1936-39 civil war.

But others, like the hundreds of thousands who took part in a rally in favour of the traditional family in December, welcomed the bishops' criticism of Socialist policies like the legalisation of gay marriage and laws to make divorce easier.

This divide may surface in tomorrow's election, and could be important if the vote is tight. Then, social questions - like gay marriage, abortion and divorce - could come to the fore alongside the main campaigning issue, the economy.

In the last surveys published before a pre-election ban on opinion polls came into force, the traditionally Catholic opposition Popular Party (PP) lagged the Socialists by about four percentage points.

And looking beyond tomorrow, those most concerned by the issues raised in the Church's statement are watching for any signs of backtracking in Spain's liberal society.

"I'm not left-wing at all, really, but I'm worried that if the government changes, we could take a step back on social changes if people like the Church get more influence," said Ivan Diaz, a gay man living in Madrid.

Mr Diaz married Antonio Tenorio last year after the Socialist government legalised gay marriage in a move that outraged conservative Spaniards and the Catholic Church. Several thousand gay couples have been married so far.

According to a recent poll in right-wing newspaper El Mundo, 34 per cent of people thought the Church's pre-election note would benefit the PP. But nearly 26 per cent thought it would be bad for Mariano Rajoy's party, and 27 per cent thought it would have no effect.

Spain was long one of Europe's most conservative countries but now Church attendance has fallen steeply, divorce rates are among the highest in the EU, and families are shrinking due to one of the world's lowest birth rates.

A PP government would probably tighten the workings of the abortion law, for example, and some Spaniards feel the atmosphere would undergo a fundamental shift if the party won.

"If Rajoy wins, I don't think he would dare change the gay marriage law but they will look at things like abortion and those that are against change will feel supported," said Mr Diaz.

Fact Box

The role of the Church in Spanish politics

• Thousands of priests and nuns were killed around the time of the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War. Last year, Pope Benedict XVI beatified 498 "martyrs" of the Civil War.

• After the war, the Church was a pillar of General Francisco Franco's dictatorship at least until the 1960s when a more liberal attitude led to confrontations with the government.

• Spain's democratic Constitution defines Spain as a lay state. A state religion is prohibited but the authorities are encouraged to take into account the beliefs of Spaniards and maintain relations with "the Catholic Church and other churches."

• According to official polls, the number of people who regularly go to Church has fallen to under 25 per cent from 75 per cent in 1974.

• The Catholic Church is partly financed from contributions taken direct from the public's taxes. About one-third of taxpayers choose to pay a contribution which adds up to about £150 million each year, according to the Spanish Bishops Conference.

• This year, the system will change. The Church will receive about one-third more from taxpayers but in return has agreed to start paying VAT from which it has been exempt. This year, the Church is expected to receive a net £153 million.

• During the current legislature, the Church has clashed with the government on gay marriage and easier divorce and has accused it of entering political negotiations with Basque guerilla group ETA. In a message to Catholics, the Church advised people not to vote for any party that believed in these policies.

• According to a recent poll in right-wing newspaper El Mundo, 34 per cent of people thought the Church's pre-election note would benefit the opposition Popular Party in the election. This confirms other polls which find that about one-third of Spaniards pay attention to what the Church says.

• Last Tuesday, the Spanish Bishops' Conference elected Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid, as its new chairman. Bishop Rouco is a hard-line bishop who has led demonstrations against the government.