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Portugal and Spain: Two different Churches? Portugal and Spain together form the Iberian Peninsula, but they are in fact two worlds, a different religious phenomenon. Bishop Carlos Azevedo, Secretary …More
Portugal and Spain: Two different Churches?

Portugal and Spain together form the Iberian Peninsula, but they are in fact two worlds, a different religious phenomenon. Bishop Carlos Azevedo, Secretary of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, comments on the social and ecclesial realty of these countries.

"The great issues of the Church and society are crucial and similar: the presence of the Church in schools, the presence of the Church in the economic and business sector and the ethics underlying that economy, the relation of the Church with political power."

Although similar, the Churches of Spain and Portugal have their differences.

"The Church in Spain intervenes a bit more, people tend to come public and engage in demonstrations, as has recently happened. The Church in Portugal in this regard is more reserved and presents a different attitude; for in fact we are two different nations. However, we do notice that the Spanish government's policies on issues "that cause divisions", as they are now called, begin to echo in some of the more radical sectors of our Portuguese society."

Issues "that cause divisions" for which the Church must be prepared.

"These issues certainly challenge the Church. First it was the issue of abortion, then it will be the issues of homosexual matrimony and euthanasia; these are issues that gradually arise and the way they are dealt with in Spain will also affect Portuguese society, and we have to be prepared for this debate."