John L. Allen Jr.

Joan Chittister

Thomas Gumbleton

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Benedict offers Spain gentle, unambiguous defense of tradition
'Let's shine a light on these positive things, try to make people understand,' he said

By John L. Allen Jr.
Valencia, Spain

Benedict XVI is a master of ecclesiastical tradition, and in Valencia this weekend he executed a classic papal high-wire act -- leaving no one in doubt about his political views, yet never directly challenging the opposition, hence leaving the door open to "doing business" where possible.

In this coastal city in eastern Spain, for the close of a Vatican-sponsored "World Meeting of Families," Benedict delivered a bracing defense of traditional church teaching on the family and human sexuality. In the Spanish context, it amounted to a clear challenge to Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who for many European Catholics has become an avatar of secularism run amuck.

Since coming to power two years ago, Zapatero's government has either adopted or discussed legislation in favor of:

• Same-sex marriage legislation;
• Fast-track divorces;
• Curbing religious education in state schools;
• Supporting embryonic stem-cell research;
• Easing abortion laws;
• Reducing or eliminating public funding for the church.

Benedict's disapproval of Zapatero's program was unambiguous, yet always indirect.

"Attempts are being made to organize the life of society on the basis of subjective and ephemeral desires alone, with no reference to objective, prior truths such as the dignity of each human being and his inalienable rights and duties, which every social group is called to serve," the pope said in a Sunday morning Mass attended by one and a half million people.

In a similar vein, Benedict exhorted the Spanish bishops to "dauntlessly proclaim that prescinding from God, acting as if he did not exist or relegating faith to the purely private sphere, undermines the truth about man and compromises the future of culture and society."

The pope minced no words in defining the family as "founded on the indissoluble marriage between a man and a woman," drawing strong and sustained applause twice at the Sunday Mass.

Yet Benedict XVI never crossed the line into direct challenge to Zapatero. In fact, he never even mentioned the prime minister, or referred directly to the Spanish situation. When tempted to do so, Benedict shifted to a positive register.

During a brief encounter with the press on the papal plane en route to Valencia, Benedict XVI was asked about the legalization of gay marriage in Spain.

"I would say that we shouldn't begin immediately with the negative things," Benedict XVI replied, "because we also see families that love each other, that are happy, and we want to encourage this reality, which gives us hope for the future."

"It's true that there are problems, things to which Christian life must say 'no,' " the pope said. "We want to make people understand that on the basis of human nature, it's man and woman who are ordained to one another, who are ordained to give humanity a future.

"Let's shine a light on these positive things, so we can try to make people understand why the church cannot accept certain things, but that at the same time it wants to help people and to respect them," he said.

Upon arrival, Benedict again accented the positive.

"Christian faith and ethics are not meant to stifle love, but to make it healthier, stronger and more truly free," he said in front of a million people Saturday night. "Human love needs to be purified and to mature if it is to be fully human and the principle of a true and lasting joy."

Benedict and Zapatero had a brief meeting Saturday evening, and both sides stressed afterwards that the encounter had been "cordial." Instead of jousting over gay marriage, government sources said, the two men discussed immigration, international conflicts, and the situation in Africa.

In the end, therefore, the only real sparks that flew in Valencia came in the form of a traditional fireworks display at the end of the pope's massive festival with families Saturday night.

The decision to avoid slugging it out with Zapatero had at least two explanations.

For one thing, an atmosphere of mourning hung over Valencia following a subway derailment July 3 that claimed the lives of 42 people, which would have rendered political agitation tasteless.

"We ask God's comfort for those who remain and those who left us," Benedict said during a brief stop outside the subway station, named for nearby Jesus Street, where he laid a wreath of white roses.

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In addition, Benedict did not want to disrupt quiet, behind-the-scenes efforts to work out a modus Vivendi between church and state.

Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera of Toledo, Spain, and the Deputy Prime Minister María Teresa Fernández de la Vega have been meeting over recent months to try to work out an agreement on the twin issues of teaching religion in public schools and public financing of church activities. Sources told NCR that both sides believe an agreement can be reached before the end of the year, and the fact that Benedict XVI met Fernández de la Vega on Saturday was seen as a sign of papal encouragement for the efforts.

Government sources said afterwards that Benedict XVI told Fernández that with her taking a lead role, he felt the church/state relationship was "in good hands."

Australian Cardinal George Pell, in Valencia for the papal trip, told NCR on Saturday that he was "not at all surprised" by Benedict's choice to avoid direct challenge to Zapatero.

"He's a guest in Spain, and as a guest I'm not sure how appropriate it would be to sound too negative," Pell said. Further, Pell said, "if there has to be a challenge [to the government], that's more a role for the local hierarchy."

At the same time, Pell said he was confident that the pope's visit "will give a great boost to those defending Christian values in public life here in Spain." Pell said the presence of a large number of cardinals, including all the Spanish cardinals, was intended to underline the church's position.

Many Spaniards agreed the pope had made his point.

"In my opinion, the pope was very direct, very clear," said Maria Mendez, 44, a mother of eight who told NCR she had traveled from Madrid in part "to support the pope."

"He didn't need to mention Zapatero by name," Mendez said.

Where Benedict was allusive and face-saving, the crowds in Valencia were not always so gracious.

Few anti-Zapatero messages were visible among the hand-lettered banners that dotted the scene, nor were there any symbols of the Partido Popular, the conservative opposition party. Yet whenever Zapatero made an appearance, he drew lusty "boos" and acerbic chants. When the prime minister arrived at the Valencia airport to welcome Benedict, for example, a small group chanted, "Out, out."

Later, when Zapatero went to the archbishop's palace for his meeting with the pope, the crowd outside was hostile.

"Zapatero, we're not waiting for you here," some chanted, a reference to banners all over Valencia in the days before Benedict's arrival proclaiming "We're waiting for you."

"Coward," others cried, while some shouted "You're only here for the picture," or "go to ETA," the armed Basque separatist group with which Zapatero has announced his intention to open talks, "they're your friends."

One did not have to scratch very far below the surface for tensions to appear.

Zapatero, for example, opted not to attend the pope's Sunday morning Mass. The prime minister's staff, on background, argued that he was following the example of French President Jacques Chirac, who maintains a strict policy of laïcité, meaning separation of church and state. They also claimed that Zapatero's presence might have been disruptive -- an argument that Saturday's experience actually seemed to bear out.

Yet Vatican spokesperson Joaquin Navarro-Valls testily observed that even Cuba's Fidel Castro, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega and Poland's Wojciech Jaruzelski -- none exactly noted for harmonious relations with the Catholic church -- attended Mass when Pope John Paul II visited their countries.

Moreover, the rhetoric during an international "Theological-Pastoral Congress" on the family, which preceded Benedict's arrival, was often more combative than the pope's tone.

Kiko Arguello, a Spaniard and co-founder of the Neocatehumenal Way, charged that the policies of the Spanish government amount to a form of "cowardly aggression" against the church.

Brazilian Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia and president of the Brazilian bishops' conference, criticized the liberal policies of the United Nations, often cited by Zapatero supporters, on "sexual and reproductive rights."

Agnelo called such positions "irrational" and "dangerous," and said they reflect "minority ideologies," which are given an "amplifying effect" through the media.

Whether this scorched earth style, or Benedict's kindler, gentler approach, will succeed in reversing Spain's direction remains to be seen. According to recent polls, Zapatero's battles with the church have yet to cost him politically. He holds a small but substantial edge over the opposition, suggesting that the force of theological argument, however it's phrased, may not be enough to get his attention.

Time, as always, will tell.

[John Allen is NCR Senior Correspondent. His e-mail address is jallen@ncronline.org.]

July 9, 2006, National Catholic Reporter