The Christ of La Laguna and constitutional caesaropapismHope in the face of growing violations of religious freedom around the world"Political correctness can become an instrument of oppression of freedoms."I have been thinking for some time about the non-attendance of our authorities, and more specifically of the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, at various Eucharistic celebrations held for recognized social reasons. The last two cases have been those of the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and the funeral for the dead in the DANA in Valencia. In both cases the normality of social life would have made it advisable to attend who is the representative of all Spaniards.
In the French capital, the highest authorities in the world gathered in an act that was highly symbolic due to the unique nature of the building that was being restored. In Valencia, the grief of the victims required to be accompanied by the highest authority in the country, believer or not. We all know that a funeral is not only attended by believers, but by all the people who want to express their feelings of grief and accompany those who are suffering the loss of a loved one. The King and Queen were present, but the President of the Government did not want to be there.
Beyond the confessed atheism of the president of our country, there is a secularist option in this decision not to attend any religious event, by which he intends to impose on the whole society his own particular vision of the place of religion in social life. In reality, by appealing to the neutrality of the State in this area, it is imposing a silencing of the presence of God, which is the current form of imposing, de facto, atheism on all citizens.
I still remember the secular state funeral that on the occasion of the COVID 19 pandemic was invented to replace the religious ceremony. In fact, the Government presented as a great milestone, as a social advance, the fact that for the first time there was no religious ceremony to pray for the deceased and it was replaced by a civil ceremony, without any mention of God. And so it is. It is not a healthy laicism, that which Pope Francis called for during his last visit to France, that is being promoted with this type of action. It is, in fact, a substitution. What is wanted is that the State be the one to channel and give the answer to the questions about the meaning of life. An answer that dispenses with God and the belief in an afterlife. An answer allegedly neutralbut which is materialistic and atheistic.
We all know that the healthy secularity of the State entails respect and freedom for all religions to contribute their principles and their activity to build a more humane society. Religion is one of the most important facets for many people. Secularism should be the space in which each one of us can express ourselves as we are, not the space in which we all have to stop being ourselves and keep silent about our beliefs.
It is clear that this is not the vision of our current leaders and that, therefore, believers are challenged to make visible the presence of religion in our daily lives, both in the public and private spheres.
And this is a task that is incumbent upon all of us. Especially the laity.
Teaching Delegate in the Diocese of Getafe since the 2010-2011 academic year, he has previously exercised this service in the Archbishopric of Pamplona and Tudela, for seven years (2003-2009). He currently combines this work with his dedication to youth ministry directing the Public Association of the Faithful 'Milicia de Santa Maria' and the educational association 'VEN Y VERÁS. EDUCATION', of which he is President.
