A better service

On May 10th José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, President of the present government and Secretary General of Psoe Party (Socialists), received a letter of congratulations signed on behalf of the Spanish bishops by the President of Spain’s Bishops Conference His Eminence Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, and by the Secretary General Msgr. Juan Antonio Martinez Camino: “We entrust our prayers to God that He may bestow his light and strength in the fulfilment of the high responsibilities you have been entrusted by the Spanish People for the service of peace, justice and the common good of all Spanish citizens”. Cardinal Rouco Varela and Msgr. Martinez Camino equally granted to Zapatero their “personal disposition and of Spain’s Bishops Conference to cooperate sincerely with State authorities for a better service to the common good”. Zapatero’s high turnout was no surprise. All surveys gave the Psoe party as the winner. According to political commentators, Zapatero increased his votes by 30/40 thousand compared to 2004, while the Ppe and Mariano Rajoy gained 400thousand votes. At the beginning however, the Psoe was much stronger than the Ppe. The votes lost by the left-wing and the radical party went to Psoe. While the Ppe was supported by center-wing electors. A rather harsh electoral campaign included Zapatero’s stern claims against the Church. However, after his victory he announced the beginning of a period of dialogue and peace. Nobody knows what’s really going to happen. Let us hope this statement proves true. Is dialogue possible? The Church hopes so, but it cannot repeal its non-negotiable principles such as the defence of life from the moment of conception to its natural termination, marriage between man and woman and children’s freedom of education. These issues were all questioned by Zapatero and by his electors. The Church will continue proclaiming the positions it has always held with serenity and firmness.As Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain said, the Church cannot betray the Gospel whose principles and doctrine she always upheld. In these years the Church fought for the defence of fundamental rights. It did not and will not remain silent, although a “laicist cultural revolution” is presently under way in Spain based on relativist principles. This reality cannot be denied. Positive signs are to be seen, however. In the past four years, a movement representing millions of people requested the Government to grant free education and support life and family promotion. The birth of this movement is important. It’s important that groups and initiatives are created in the defence of every person’s rights and values, not only of Catholics. Many Christians have awakened from a state of half-sleep. This is a significant sign; a precious contribution for the accomplishment of the common good.