They register 109 attacks against the Catholic Church in Spain in 2023

The Observatory for Religious Freedom and Conscience denounces that in 2023 it has registered 109 cases of attacks against the Catholic Church, including the murder of the sacristan Diego Valencia, in which a priest was injured.

During the presentation of the annual report prepared by the OLRC corresponding to 2023, its president, María García, highlighted that in 13 years “we had never had to record such a violent case”, in which another priest and the Bishop of Cádiz, Mons. Rafael Zornoza, could have been in danger when he was in the vicinity of the scene of the events.

The total number of attacks in 2023 was reduced by 6% compared to the previous year, maintaining that three out of four times the victims have been Christians. Catholics have been the most attacked (109 registered cases) and 27 records are considered attacks on all religions.

In addition, attacks on Jews recorded have increased by 600% in the context of Israel’s response to the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas in the month of October and grievances against places of worship and religious symbols have also increased.

García stressed that, despite the numerical decrease, the attacks “have been more violent.” Furthermore, he has denounced that “this polarization towards religion is not only occurring in Spain, but in the rest of Europe and the world.”

The Report on attacks on religious freedom in Spain 2023, 195 cases have been recorded, of which 3 are physical violence against believers, 41 against places of worship and symbols, 32 have been humiliation of believers, 54 are classified as cases of mockery of religion and 65 cases of belligerent secularism.

“Despite our efforts to include all the relevant facts in this report, we believe that many incidents and attacks have taken place that we simply have not heard about since they do not even reach the media. There are also numerous and incalculable attacks on religious freedom on social networks, but, since we cannot cover all of them, we only include those that have made the news,” the OLRC states in the document.

The Socialist Party is the one that registers the most cases

Among the political parties, the report of more than 250 pages indicates that the Spanish Socialist Workers Party is responsible for 30 cases, followed by the communist-inspired formations Podemos (13) and Izquierda Unida (5).

In this regard, the OLRC points out that the fact that “the ruling party is the one that attacks religious freedom the most is an obvious sign that it wants to limit the rights of believers, especially those of the majority religion, Catholicism.” .

In this sense, they highlight the pact between PSOE and Podemos to eliminate the protection of religious feelings, when 21 of the 27 states of the European Union currently recognize them.

“The degree of radicalization of the discourse of political leaders has a negative effect that leads to an intensification of attacks on religious freedom; an effect contrary to what should be expected in the actions of a representative of the citizens,” they insist.

Petitions from the Observatory for Religious Freedom

The Observatory for Religious Freedom concludes its report with a series of requests to political parties and their representatives in legislative institutions and executive bodies at the national, regional and local levels.

The first is “that religious symbols be protected and measures are taken to guard the temples. “Some religious communities have to put up cameras or private security to prevent attacks.”

Secondly, they demand that they “respect the right to pray whenever and wherever one wants. Also in front of a center that performs abortions or near the headquarters of a political party.”

The third demand is that “the crime of offending religious feelings be maintained in the Penal Code to prevent intolerance and hatred against believers of any confession.”

The guarantee of “effective compliance with the treaties signed by the Spanish State with the different religious confessions, also regarding the freedom of parents to educate their children according to their own convictions,” constitutes the fourth request.

Finally, the OLRC demands “that anti-religious hatred and belligerent secularism not be encouraged by public institutions and citizen representative bodies, since believers are not second-class citizens.”