“Crude images and deplorable forms of blasphemy”: that’s how the Spanish bishops comment on the commercials for a new film on St. Theresa of the Child Jesus and the catalogue of an art exhibition in the region of Estremadura. In a statement issued on 15 March, the executive Committee of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference deplores the fact that “various incidents have occurred in recent days, even on the part of the public institutions, that can be judged offensive to Catholics, given that they denigrate the most representative images of the faith of the Church, such as Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints”. According to the Spanish bishops, the images in question “also offend the feelings of any person of conscience”. The bishops refer in particular to the “television commercials for the film entitled Teresa” and the “even graver case of the catalogues of the photographic exhibition published by the Council of Culture of the regional junta of Estremadura, with a preface written by its President”. “We resolutely call for respect for the Catholic faith, its images and its signs”, write the bishops. “Respective responsibilities need to be established by peaceful and legal means, as provided by the constitution and law of our democratic state”, they conclude. “Without justice, not even co-existence in freedom is possible”.
