Spanish archbishop objects to labeling pro-lifers as ‘ultra-Catholics’ or ‘extreme right’

CNA Staff   By CNA Staff

 

Luis Argüello, archbishop of Valladolid and general secretary of the Spanish Episcopal Conference / Photo credit: CEE

Denver Newsroom, Oct 17, 2022 / 13:00 pm (CNA).

The archbishop of Valladolid and spokesman for the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, Luis Argüello, defended pro-lifers praying in front of abortion clinics and objected to their being labeled as “ultra-Catholic” or “on the extreme right.”

Argüello criticized in an Oct. 16 Twitter post that “those who defend life by praying in front of a clinic where a person developing in the womb is killed are discredited as ultra-Catholic or extreme right.”

“There are only ad hominem arguments left for those who know they’re going against science, ethics, integral ecology, and the voice of God,” the prelate wrote.

Spain’s socialist government for some time has put in place mechanisms to put pressure on pro-life volunteer groups who pray in front of abortion businesses and help mothers who are considering aborting their children.

Last April, an change to the country’s Penal Code was passed that punishes with sentences of three months to one year in prison those who are found guilty of carrying out “annoying, offensive, intimidating, or coercive acts” toward women going to have abortions.

The government justified the change in the law by pointing to those who pray in front of abortion businesses.

Although no one has yet to be charged with violating the law, there have been incidents over the last few months from which it can be deduced that the authorities have been focusing on pro-lifers.

Several members of pro-life organizations have been fined or efforts to hold prayer at abortion clinics within the parameters of the law have been prevented, according to organizers.

The most serious situation occurred in mid-September when a woman who was part of the “Praying is not a crime” initiative — and who was 39 weeks pregnant at the time — was surrounded by several police officers while praying outside the Dator abortion business in Madrid.

There have also been attempts by police officers illegally to force members of 40 Days for Life in Vitoria to keep a large distance away from an abortion clinic.

According to El Debate online news, the director of the Basque Country autonomous region police, Victoria Landa, issued an order to keep pro-lifers 80 meters away from an abortion business, which was revoked by the Basque High Court.

“The administration acted incorrectly outside the bounds of the law” by requiring the pro-lifers to change the place where they were gathering, the court explained.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


About Catholic News Agency 10110 Articles
Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com)

4 Comments

  1. It has to be an Alinskian tactic, in that the far left assumes unto itself the position of ‘centrist’, the key proviso being that no one has the nerve to object, and from that position they can denounce anything different as “far right”.
    It’s a smart tactic, built on sand, but unless/until someone remarks about the 800 lb. gorilla in the corner, they’ll get away with it.

  2. We read of a new social distancing (!) of “80 meters”…How very modern, the metric system instead of cubits.

    But, if we stuck with Old Testament “cubits” we might then be reminded of how the assimilated Hebrews, like their neighboring pagan worshipers of Baal, surrendered their own children to the sacrificial flames of the pagan deities. We see this in Jeremiah (32:35), Lamentations (2:20), Baruch (2:3), and the Psalms (106:36-8).

    To such presumed centrists of old, remnant and prayerful sanity anywhere in Canaan probably also seemed “extreme right” and “ultra.”

  3. The terms “extremme”, “right-wing”, and “far right” as used by the MSM are just meant to shut down thinking and speaking. As such, they only betray their lack of confidence in their own ideas.

  4. The fascists here are the police and the politicians who despise the unborn and also Faith! They’re going to become the brown shirt thugs of the 21st century soon!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

All comments posted at Catholic World Report are moderated. While vigorous debate is welcome and encouraged, please note that in the interest of maintaining a civilized and helpful level of discussion, comments containing obscene language or personal attacks—or those that are deemed by the editors to be needlessly combative or inflammatory—will not be published. Thank you.


*