Protestantism in Spain
Encyclopedia
Protestantism
in Spain
has been present as far back as the 16th century
. The Spanish Inquisition
resulted in forced conversions, imprisonments, executions, and deportations of most non-Catholics, including Protestants, Jews and Muslims.
Protestantism made a comeback following the Glorious Revolution
of 1868, which resulted in the granting of greater religious liberties; this was rescinded again during the Franco
dictatorship.
In Francisco Franco's authoritarian Spanish State
, Protestantism was deliberately marginalized and persecuted. During the Civil War, Franco's regime persecuted the country's 30,000
Protestants, and forced many Protestant pastors to leave the country. Once authoritarian rule was established, non-Catholic Bibles were confiscated by police and Protestant schools were closed. Although the 1945 Spanish Bill of Rights granted freedom of private worship, Protestants suffered legal discrimination and non-Catholic religious services were not permitted publicly, to the extent that they could not be in buildings which had exterior signs indicating it was a house of worship and that public activities were prohibited.
While the Catholic Church was declared official and enjoyed a close relation to the state, parts of the Basque clergy harbored nationalist ideas
opposed to Spanish centralism and were persecuted and imprisoned in a "Concordate jail" reserved for criminal clergy.
At present, the Spanish government observes the Law of Religious Freedom of 1968 and the Constitution of 1978, which returns many religious liberties to minorities.
There are at least 1.5 million Protestants who reside in Spain as of 2009.
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
has been present as far back as the 16th century
16th century
As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century lasted from 1501 to 1600. It is regarded by historians as the century in which the rise of the West occurred....
. The Spanish Inquisition
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
resulted in forced conversions, imprisonments, executions, and deportations of most non-Catholics, including Protestants, Jews and Muslims.
Protestantism made a comeback following the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution (Spain)
The Glorious Revolution took place in Spain in 1868, resulting in the deposition of Queen Isabella II.An 1866 rebellion led by General Juan Prim and a revolt of the sergeants at San Gil barracks, in Madrid, sent a signal to Spanish liberals and republicans that there was serious unrest with the...
of 1868, which resulted in the granting of greater religious liberties; this was rescinded again during the Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
dictatorship.
In Francisco Franco's authoritarian Spanish State
Spanish State
Francoist Spain refers to a period of Spanish history between 1936 and 1975 when Spain was under the authoritarian dictatorship of Francisco Franco....
, Protestantism was deliberately marginalized and persecuted. During the Civil War, Franco's regime persecuted the country's 30,000
Protestants, and forced many Protestant pastors to leave the country. Once authoritarian rule was established, non-Catholic Bibles were confiscated by police and Protestant schools were closed. Although the 1945 Spanish Bill of Rights granted freedom of private worship, Protestants suffered legal discrimination and non-Catholic religious services were not permitted publicly, to the extent that they could not be in buildings which had exterior signs indicating it was a house of worship and that public activities were prohibited.
While the Catholic Church was declared official and enjoyed a close relation to the state, parts of the Basque clergy harbored nationalist ideas
Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
opposed to Spanish centralism and were persecuted and imprisoned in a "Concordate jail" reserved for criminal clergy.
At present, the Spanish government observes the Law of Religious Freedom of 1968 and the Constitution of 1978, which returns many religious liberties to minorities.
There are at least 1.5 million Protestants who reside in Spain as of 2009.