* Article II. by Albert T. Tasker.
THIS time we are to examine how President Roosevelt’s “Freedom of Religion” fares in countries where the Papacy is in control, and for this purpose we cannot do better than to examine this “Freedom” in what is boasted as the “model Catholic state”—Spain.
St. Paul’s mention of Spain seems to infer that it was one of the first lands in Western Europe to hear the Gospel’s joyful sound; but we do know for certain that the Christian church was well established in the 4th century. During the latter half of that century, a Spaniard was made Bishop of Rome; and Roman persecution started from that time. There were two candidates for the bishopric, Damasus and Ursinius; but just before the election, when the latter’s followers were gathered in church, Damasus hired a band of gladiators, gravediggers, armed them with axes, swords, etc., and set siege to the church, killing 160 men and women. Some escaped and re-assembled in the cemetery of St. Agnes, but Damasus fell upon them again with great havoc. Damasus was elected bishop, and has since been made a “saint,” so Al Capone is in congenial company!
From that time till the present day, the Spanish people have struggled to free themselves from the steel-like grip of Rome. In the fifth century she revealed a dislike for Rome, which never ceased. For instance, in the eleventh century, the bishop of Compostella tried to emancipate the Spanish church, and was excommunicated. Later, the kingdoms of Leon and Castile rebelled against Gregory VII. and the Cluny monks. Coming down to modern times, the people revolted and a Cortes (parliament) was elected which abolished the Inquisition and established religious liberty; this was in 1822, but the following year the “Holy Alliance” sanctioned the entry of a French army, which remained till the royal absolutism was restored. In the early part of the present century, when illiteracy was 80% of the population, a great man arose, Senor Ferrer, who opened “lay schools” wherever possible; but alas, he was arrested as an anarchist, court-martialled and shot on October 13th, 1909. Indignation was so great at this outrage (especially in England) that the king was forced to hold another general election which resulted in another “Liberal” government with another great Spaniard at its head, Senor Canalejas. It was then discovered that one-third of the capital wealth of Spain was controlled by the Jesuits! Senor Canalejas immediately declared for liberty of conscience and freedom in religion for all. It was not long, however (November 12th, 1912), ere he was murdered by an “anarchist.” Strange that U.S.A. Presidents, Lincoln and McKinley, also the Mexican President, Alvaro Obregon, were all murdered by “anarchists.” And stranger still, all the murderers were Papists. In the case of Obregon (July 17th, 1928), the murderer confessed at his trial that the Mother Superior of the Convent of Espirito Santo had “inspired” his crime.
In the history of Spain, Rome has never been supreme by the will of the people. Franco, who is merely the cat’s paw of the Vatican, commenced his rebellion on July 18th, 1936. The elections in the previous February resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Popular Front with 267 seats against 132 obtained by the Right, and 62 by the Centre. The Cortes had but 15 Communists. But with Franco having the assistance of 100,000 Italians, the Vatican and Hitler, together with the shameful blockade of the Republic by Britain and France, Franco was victor. Let it be noted—the Vatican is indifferent to the masses, so long as she can get the power.
And what of Spain to-day? Illiteracy is 46%. (News Review, 21/8/47). Bishop Modrego of Barcelona recently told some Boston newspapermen that reports of persecution of non-Catholics were “absolutely false,” but “Propaganda by non-Catholics is prohibited, because Spain is overwhelmingly Catholic.” Officially, the only Protestants in Spain to-day are foreign nationals. Every child born there to-day is born into the Roman Catholic church, it has no legal existence otherwise. If it goes to school there are only Catholic ones. The catechism used to-day (Nuevo Ripaldo), approved and blessed by the Pope, and in its twenty-second edition, insists that a Catholic cannot vote as he chooses. If he votes Liberal—if even he reads a Liberal journal without permission—he is committing a mortal sin. And by Liberalism is meant not Socialism nor Communism (each of these has a section to itself) but those “pestilential heresies”—freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and freedom of the press. The Catechism says (page 74): “Catholics must make it their aim to destroy these freedoms.”
But are there no Protestants in Spain? Yes, yes. “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it!” Persecuted down the centuries, the Inquisition, the autos-da-fe, the Church still stands. The head of the Spanish Christian Mission was sentenced to death but managed to escape with his family to Canada. That Mission reckons there are 7,000 Christians in Spain to-day. Seven thousand risking their daily bread, their employment, aye, their very life, for that liberty we enjoy. Reader, remember them at the “throne of grace.” Will you?
Justice in Spain? Recently sixteen persons were put on trial. One was a shorthand typist, Hayde Alonso, another Maria Toledano. What was their crime? “Activities against the State.” Marie stood before the judge, and facing a large crucifix, testified in a firm, clear voice that she had a degree of philosophy and had given private lessons. The prosecutor asked for the death sentence, but at 31 years of age, she was sentenced to 20 years in gaol! A male prisoner, Tamayo by name, said the police had given him five terrific beatings to make him sign a second ‘confession.’ The presiding judge interrupted him, saying this was irrelevant.
Before the writer is a translation of a leaflet which was, on the 9th of November, 1947, distributed in all churches in Barcelona. It declares war on Protestantism by the Spanish Catholic Action. After deploring the increase of Protestants in that city, it continues:—’We are not allowed to grant this as Spaniards, for under the mask of this heresy suspected aims can be hidden; the underground power of certain groups, discord and disadvantage, aims which are all against the benefit of our country. . . . We shall not approve of it. That is why we want this anonymous voice of the Spanish Catholic to be a protest in the first place, against the utmost serious circumstances we are in, in consequence of misunderstood tolerance. . . . It is the duty of the authorities to extirpate this serious evil. At the same time it remains the firm duty of all Catholics not to suffer the Protestant activity in our native country. Barcelona, October, 1947. Long live Catholic Unity.’
Spain is a country blessed by the Pope, ruled by the priest, and exploited by the Roman Catholic Church.—A. T. T.