Is Spain still a nation of Roman Catholics?
Seventy-five per cent of the Spanish population describe themselves as Catholics. Movements such as Opus Dei and the Neocatechumenal Way (whose followers are known in Spain as kikos after founder Kiko Argüello) are popular.
However, only about 15% of Spanish Catholics attend Mass with any semblance of regularity. More than 60% admit that they rarely set foot in a church. Most of the countries seminaries have shut their doors. The situation among Religious Orders is even more grim.
Still, the Church struggles to involve itself in politics. It continues to be a fierce opponent of the socialist government, calling upon the Catholic faithful to publicly protest against divorce, abortion and same-sex marriage.
Yet, very much like its European counterparts, Spain is witnessing the fading of the Catholic Faith. In the 20th century, religious practice in Spain fell sharply, especially as the country transitioned to democracy and resentment of the Church’s support for Franco’s dictatorship began to manifest itself in the public square.
The country has had one of the lowest birthrates in the world over the past half century—well before Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s government legalized abortion on demand, same-sex “marriage”, the adoption of children by homosexual couples and made “express divorce” legal.
Young Spaniards are leaving the country for the more prosperous parts of Latin America (especially Chile) and for Germany and Britain. Considering Spain’s massive youth emigration and the fact that the country has one of Europe’s lowest birth rates, Spain’s youth population is shrinking, and the Church has been feeling the effects of this abandonment for decades.
The question of how to stem the Catholic Church's erosion in Spain looms as one of the most daunting challenges. Its traditional support is in decline, and its doctrines are under threat. Even in such predominantly Catholic countries as Italy, with its debate over artificial insemination, and in Ireland, which has eased some restrictions on divorce. John Paul tried, the Church has failed to reference Europe's Christian heritage included in the new European Union Constitution. Instead, the EU clearly has chosen to define its future in terms of its association with the Continent's Roman and Greek heritage.
Cultural Catholicism remains deeply embedded in Spanish culture -- religious holy days are national holidays, most Spaniards still celebrate lavish church weddings and a child's First Communion remains a rite of passage.
But increasingly for many younger Spaniards, these traditions have become devoid of religious significance.
Catholic Spaniards pay little heed to the evangelical counsels, the dogma, or the morality of the Church.
They feel respect for the Faith, if not the Clergy. They agree with the values the Church espouses. But they willfully choose to ignore those values in their ordinary lives.
As one will find in most of the Catholic churches throughout Europe, there are old people and only a few young in attendance. The churches have become places for concerts, art and architectural appreciation. They are no longer places of prayer.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has been targeting young people with a series of measures considered popular in Spain's fast-changing society, but which pose a challenge to the Church and its traditional power.
Zapatero's Socialist Workers' Party won elections last March, and one of the government's first acts was to begin pushing through legislation to legalize gay marriage. The law is expected to be finalized this year, placing Spain with the Netherlands and Belgium as countries in Europe where gays enjoy full matrimonial rights, including adoption rights.
In opposition to this messaging and policy, the Church appears to be speaking to a vacuum. No one is listening.
And so, Spain, the country which the Vatican once considered to be the most Catholic in all of Europe, where the Catholic faithful defeated the Muslims at Granada in 1492 and, by so doing, consolidated Roman Catholicism's hold on the continent, the place where the Inquisition rooted out those who failed to adhere to the strict Catholic line is seeing the light of the Catholic Faith rapidly waning.
Just another clear indication that the Church in Europe is dying, and in many places dead already.
If there is to be a resurrection for the Church, we must pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire leaders and faithful members who will call God’s People to faith once more.
We must ask the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the Consoler to come to the rescue of the Church. We must humble ourselves in submission to God’s Holy Will and ask His forgiveness for having exchanged the treasure of the Gospel and teachings of the Church for the trash of worldly gratification and gain.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle within us the fire of Your Love!
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