Abstract
Contrary to the absence of a uniform Spanish identity (a phenomenon that is often referred to as Spain being a ‘nation of nations’), Spain’s confessional map is remarkably homogeneous. From the beginning of its existence as a political conglomeration, Spain has been a mono-confessional Catholic territory. Even at present, Catholicism is an intrinsic feature of Spanish society and – though officially a secular state – of state policy. A closer look at Spain’s religious situation and its corresponding pattern of church–state relations reveals, however, some recent cracks in the century’s old bond between Spain and Catholicism. Particularly secularization and religious pluralism challenge Spain’s mono-confessional Catholic nature, a development that fits well into Spain’s post-Francoist focus on Europe and European (secular) values. This paper discusses Spanish church–state relations from the beginning of its political existence until present times. Special attention will be paid to more recent societal developments and their impact on religious Spain and church–state relations.
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Notes
This does, however, not mean that the Vatican had no influence at all in the process of filling a vacant bishopric. According to the procedure, as soon as a bishopric became vacant the Papal Nuncio would contact the Spanish government and then produce a list with six names of potential bishops. This list would then be send to the Vatican that would either choose three names from the list or add or replace some of the proposed names. In the first case, Franco would present the final name of the bishop thirty days later, but in the second case, the process would start over again until an agreement was reached (Heubel 1977).
“La Nación española considera como timbre de honor el acatamiento a la Ley de Dios, según la doctrina de la Santa Iglesia Católica, Apostólica y Romana, única verdadera y fe inseparable de la conciencia nacional, que inspirará su legislación” (text of the Ley de Principios del Movimiento Nacional).
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de Busser, C. Church–state relations in Spain: Variations on a National-Catholic theme?. GeoJournal 67, 283–294 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-007-9067-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-007-9067-y