Financial Issues Open Rifts Between Church and State
The financial crisis in Europe has led many people to question whether or not governments should begin taxing properties held by the Catholic Church. I honestly don’t know if protestant churches enjoy the same tax breaks as they do in the US but the reason we should be praying for God’s will and wisdom in this case is that it would have a huge economic impact on churches but more importantly it widens the rift between the church and the people it hopes to serve.
This news is hard to interpret because there are so many dynamics involved. On one hand we see a weakening of the grip the Catholic Church has on European governments and it’s people as a local councilman was quoted as saying:
“This is a moment for the country to stand up to the power of the church,”
David Cerdan, 38, a council member in the textile town of Aspe
However this move will also cause more division in a nation that is already deeply divided along religious and political lines. There are already divisions in the Spanish government on the issue with the prime minister of Spain opposing the measure. One local politician responded:
“It is in times of economic hardship that we need the church the most and need to support it,”
Vicente Amad, a council member in the shoemaking town of Elda
Finally the move to tax churches could be a sign of general anti-christian sentiment in an increasingly secular Europe.
However you look at it We need to pray for God to give us wisdom in dealing with these difficult times and how to properly respond in a Christlike way.
Source: Washington Post – Financially troubled parts of Europe consider taxing church properties
Spain Is Making More Financial Reforms And May Seek Financial Help
The government of Spain has been under constant pressure from its neighbors to get its economy under control. In the early years of this new century Spain enjoyed unprecedented economic growth and grew to be an economic powerhouse in Europe. They rose to become the 4th largest economy in Europe and the 12th largest in the world. They also fell into the same easy money trap as the US did by over borrowing and over lending. Right now Spain is on the brink of financial collapse, similar to the situation we saw in Greece earlier in the year.
Spain has been holding out against a bailout for some time, hoping that they could ride out the storm by cutting costs and enacting other austerity measures but it is beginning to look like their cost cutting efforts may not be enough and they may be forced to take a bailout.
If they do accept a bailout, it will come with strings attached in the form of greater austerity measures which will not be popular to the Spanish people.
These are difficult times and We need to pray for God’s wisdom for the leaders of Spain and the EU as well as wisdom for the church to rise up and take advantage of these times to help point their country to God.
Source: Associated Press – Spain inches closer to financial help request
Catalonia Renews Calls For Independence
Historically Catalonia has been known for its desire to be a separate and independent nation from Spain. Catalonia is culturally distinct from the rest of Spain with its own language and a cultural link closer to France than to Spain. Catalans have never had a militant separatist movement like those in the Basque region with ETA but have for the most part peacefully pursued, at a minimum greater autonomy from the main Spanish government and at the most extreme complete secession from the Spanish kingdom.
The calls for secession are nothing new but We should pray for peace in that region as in today’s climate violence is not un-imaginable.
Sources: New York Times – Catalonia Presses Spain on Autonomy Even as Financial Crisis Simmers
Reuters – Vast crowds demand Catalan autonomy from crisis-hit Spain