Historia de Barcelona

Protestant Church Persecuted In Spain by Extremist Mobs

By William H. Newton, Scripps-Howard Staff Writer

Barcelona, May 21 – A campaign of persecution and repression of the Protestant religion is under way in Spain.

It has taken the form of mob violence against the few Protestant churches that exist, propaganda attacks against Protestants, and a general effort to destroy all religious rights and freedoms for Protestants.

The campaign is not supported by the Government. In fact, it has been a source of considerable embarrassment to Franco. Police guards have been provided for some Protestant churches. But Franco has not taken any effective steps to call of the attacks, which he has ample power to do.

The anti-Protestant campaign is being run by extremist elements within the Catholic Church, notably by Cardinal Seguro [sic].

[…]

The following Protestant churches have been raided by mobs:

The Baptist Chapel of Granollers, Sept. 21 1947; the Methodist Church of Ripoll St., Barcelona, Oct. 11, 1947; the Church of the Brethren on Trafalgar St., Madrid, in Nov., 1947; the Baptist Church of Valencia, Dec. 9, 1947; the Baptist Church of Albacete, Jan. 4 1948; the Church of the Brethren in Linares, June 24, 1948, and the Baptist Church of Valencia was raided a second time [on April 12].

[Account by Valencia pastor of the attack on his church]

Many members of the Catholic hierarchy have denied responsibility for the violence against Protestants. Bishops in their pastoral letters have counseled that Protestantism «must be eliminated by other means than violence.»

At the same time, however, pamphlets denouncing Protestantism have been circulated in Barcelona and Madrid, quoting Cardinal Seguro and other members of the hierarchy…

The line of attack generally is that «the Catholic Church» is the only true church and is therefore the only one which is entitled to liberty. Freedom of religion is an evil which must be tolerated only when necessary to prevent greater evils. There is no excuse for tolerance of dissident sects in Spain because the number of people involved is so small.» [quotes sic]