July 7, 2006
HE OUGHT TO BEATIFY FRANCO:
Plan to beatify martyrs of Spanish civil war attacked (Daily Telegraph, 08/07/2006)
The Pope has provoked controversy with plans to beatify 168 Catholic martyrs of the Spanish civil war.Posted by Orrin Judd at July 7, 2006 10:05 PMHistorians believe that about 10,000 priests, brothers, nuns and laity were killed during the civil war from 1936-39, as Leftists fighting to defend Spain's secular republic tried to wipe out what they saw as Catholic resistance. [...]
The Spanish Church was a powerful ally of Franco. Every house and classroom had a crucifix, and priests often wielded more influence than judges or police officers.
Comments
Spain's socialist government doesn't like the idea? Imagine that.
Posted by: mf at July 8, 2006 12:06 AMThere is some precendent for this: John Paul II beatified hundreds of Catholic martyrs from the Spanish Civil War in 2001. Also, September 22 is the feast day for the Martyrs of Valencia.
Posted by: Matt Murphy at July 8, 2006 2:10 AM