The European Secularist Network joins a long list of writers, academics, artists, activists and organisations to support the manifesto demanding an end to the Church’s privileges.
Joining the hundred or so figures from civil society is a long list of groups committed to secularism and state neutrality in religious matters, including the European Secularist Network, Derecho a Morir Dignamente (DMD), Fundació Ferrer i Guàrdia, Redes Cristianas, and AILP (International Association for Free Thought). In the manifesto, they all call for the repeal of the Agreements between the Spanish State and the Holy See.
The manifesto laments that a progressive government has failed to pave the way for far-reaching reforms and, in the 21st century, continues to uphold a treaty that enshrines privileges for Catholicism and undermines citizens’ freedom of conscience.
These Agreements of 1976 and 1979, regarded by the Europa Laica as an extension of Franco’s 1953 Concordat, are incompatible with a truly secular and democratic state. Europa Laica denounces the fact that these pacts maintain unjustified privileges for the Catholic Church and perpetuate an institutional relationship that violates the principle of separation between Church and State.
With this action, Europa Laica is launching a public petition drive aimed at citizens, with the aim of securing broad public support for this demand. The campaign has set an initial target of submitting the signatures to the Spanish Parliament by June 8, the date on which Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to address MPs and senators – an institutional presence at the seat of national sovereignty that constitutes an unacceptable drift towards religious influence, which Europa Laica has already denounced.
Europa Laica calls for public participation and the support of all those individuals and organisations that defend a model of a secular state, based on equality, institutional neutrality and respect for diversity of belief.
Original manifesto and signatures here.
