Ultra -Catholics hit with the cross of the fallen to the moderate sector of the clergy | Spain

« That reality does not spoil a good title, » says that aphorism about the old vice of bad journalism. With a slight variation, it could also be applied to the offensive launched by groups of the Radical Catholic right, accompanied by Vox, against the Church agreement with the Government on the Valley of the Fallennow called Co -gums. That reality does not spoil a good agitation campaign.

He has given the same as the planned « resignification » does not fulfill one of the great fears that these groups have encouraged among his followers. The victimist campaign was ready and it was not a matter of changing it for something as futile as reality. And more when this campaign allows to charge at the same time against the alleged anti -Christianity of the government and the alleged warmth of the episcopate, which already has extremists irritated by its Immigration reception speech.

Multiple conjectures about the dark purposes of Pedro Sánchez have been circulating in the Loba of ultra -Catholic organizations: the president – their alarmed detractors continued – has the worst intentions for the valley, the Sagrada Cruz is in danger, you have to prepare for battle. But the truth is that the « resignification » will not mean the demolition of the gigantic symbol – an opposition that was never on the table – nor the deacralization of the basilica, Not even the departure of the Benedictinesaspect in which the government has given its arm to twist.

And what has been the response to make yourself heard and the Spanish Christian lawyers association, to name two of the entities that have expanded those fears? Far from rectifying, they have proved themselves and redoubled the bet. In addition to maintaining that the agreement is a mere dissimulation of the true plans of the government and its allies in the ecclesial dome, they have elevated to the category of offense the acceptance by the Church both of the relay of the prior Santiago Cantero – ultra -rightist notory that He opposed to nails and teeth to Franco’s exhumation in 2019– as the « resignification » of the valley.

The reaction of ultra -Catholic groups began in the middle of last week with signatures and dissemination of messages on the networks and extended Sunday with a call in Co -gums under the slogan « Save the valley. » This Monday, dozens of people have protested in front of the headquarters of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), which began with all plenary assembly. In the demonstration, a banner showed the face of José Cobo, archbishop of Madrid. Because? Because the promoters of the campaign not only direct their anger against the Executive, but also against what they see as a surrender and even a betrayal of the hierarchy, where they encourage a gesture of rebellion of the hard sector. The figure they have chosen to personify the pactist warmth is Cobo, a banner of the most opening line within the Church, aligned with Pope Francis, which would be a moderate conservative in relation to the whole of society. « Cowards! » And « Traitors! » They were two of the most listened to the protest.

Cobo, in the spotlight

Cobo had been put in the spotlight to be heard, Christian lawyers and Vox, among other entities. The first, chaired by Ignacio Arsuaga, keeps a signature collection open to urge bishops to rebel « immediately. » Known by the Harassing actions to clinics to abortMake yourself heard accuses the EEC and singularly to Cobo, important in the negotiation as a representative of the Church in Madrid, of a « betrayal » that will allow the valley to stop being « a place of reconciliation », a typical expression of Franco’s propaganda, to become a focus of « indoctrination. » The Archdiocese of Madrid He clarified that « the only thing » agreed has been « the permanence of the Benedictine community and the non -desacralization of the basilica », as well as respect for the outer cross. But he has not convinced you to hear, who has among his favorite prelates to Oviedo, Jesús Sanz, and Orihuela-Aliante, José Ignacio Munilla, in the most conservative positions of the Episcopate. Cobo showed himself on Monday « perplexed » to criticism.

Get to hear insists that the ultimate goal of the government remains. « How long do you think will happen until finally the basilica and the cross are destroyed? » He asks in his signature collection. The final synthesis would be like this: what you can hear predicted that it was going to happen has not happened, so get heard again forecast. The same does Christian lawyers, who usually star allegations for religious offense with Great media route And now it has turned to this cause.

The organization chaired by Poland Castellanos has opened another collection of signatures against the agreement in which it states that the valley will be disfigured with the « complicity of those who should have defended » Catholics. One of his spokespersons, Norberto Domínguez, has particularized his reproaches in the Archdiocese of Madrid, which issued a statement last week regretting the “filtration” of the agreement. « The problem is not filtration, it is that Catholics surrender to us, » says Domínguez in a video. Also against the Madrid archdiocese has charged the Association for the Defense of the Valley of the Fallen, in the same ideological spectrum.

In search of « polarization »

The aforementioned are only three of the members of a conglomerate of associations that these days have entered the hyperventilation phase. Together with the collection of signatures, initiatives such as sending letters to Pope Francis have been popularized to “save the cross” of the Valley. Again, it does not seem to import that there is no plan to break it down.

« The cross is important, but what is sought above all is to condition the Spanish Church, mark the step, » says an activist who collaborates with a group against abortion and links criticism of the ultra -Catholic block to the hierarchy with the irritation caused by the Dominant positions in CEE on immigration. A theologian in moderate positions, attentive to the movements in the church after the agreement on the valley, believes that the campaign on the alleged « betrayal » is an attempt of the radical groups of gaining strength between the Catholic bases through « polarization. » « The hierarchy is presented as a coward and accommodation, accomplice of a social government contrary to faith, » he explains.

Vox – whose president, Santiago Abascal, has spread for years that the left intends to “fly the valley” and “knock down the cross” – has now joined this campaign, with various representatives carrying against the government and against Cobo. Jorge Buxadé has accused the Archdiocese of Madrid of « agreing with an anti -Christian government » and Hermann Tretsch, « lack of dignity. » Criticisms have extended even to the Madrid president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso (PP), to which Tetsch and her partner in the Euro -Relary Juan Carlos Girauta accuse of allowing « resignification » by not declare Bic El Valle. « D demolition crosses badly, » Girauta written in X.

The background gives Vox reasons to think that this Cultural battle You can give it revenues. In 2019, the party rose from 24 to 52 deputies between the April and November elections, a period in which the Franco exhumation It was a stellar theme. In countries such as France and Italy, Marine Le Pen and Giorgia Meloni continually seek controversial opposing crosses, maneuver that usually guarantees founded confrontations and great media impact, the type of feedback in which the outrages moves as a fish in the water.