It is the Spanish government that is infringing the spirit in terms of the Concordat with the Vatican.
This is one of the most aggressively pagan governments that Spain has ever had, and it is constantly seeking to push back the boundries of what is acceptable, it is a uniquely dreadful government and the sooner the Spanish see tha back of it the better.
When you have a government in such a traditional Catholic country, seeking to change its nature into something horrible, and disgusting, then you have a recipe for a country on the verge of insurrection.
They are the true heirs of the republican government of the 30's .

~~~

Robert, Birmingham , UK

Catholic Church may not criticise any measures taken by Spanish Government as relationship between Catholic Church and State are base on the Concordate Spain-Vatican City.

That is not the same situation with other religions (jews, muslims and luterans) which Spain regulated by ordinary law relationship with. These ones can perfectly criticise as any other association those measures they consider.

But Spanish Catholic Church is Vatican City, and Vatican City is a State. Spanish Catholic Church criticising the Government is the same as saying Vatican City criticise Spanish Government in electoral time. That is unacceptable!

Carlos Garcia, Castellon de la Plana, Spain

Bishops' language was wrong because it was quite close to the language used by some extreme right jornalist. However, the essence of this guidance for voters is perfectly faithful to Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Government reaction has been extremely hysterical and disproportionate because Mr. Zapatero is trying to change the current non-denominational state into a secular state against moral majority.

Giovanni Palma, La Palma, Canary Islands

Pedro "What irks me is the fact that the Church says they are politically neutral"

They are politically neutral in the sense that they support whoever doesn't contradict fundamental tenets of the faith. That happens to usually be the right, but not necessarily, and in other countries it is the left.

In an absolute sense they are not neutral, but then no human institution that requires adherence to a core of beliefs or policies can be said to be neutral since a government may attempt to press against those beliefs.

But governments are here today, and gone tomorrow. Institutions with stronger foundations must be listened to with respect at the very least, since they are more enduring and ultimately more powerful.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

It is quite obvious that the Church has a right to advice or criticise any measures that they feel go against their convictions, but that is quite different from telling people that there lies the end of democracy, as they do all the time. And I remind you that anyone who analyses reality from a political point of view is himself subject of a political analysis. What irks me is the fact that the Church says they are politically neutral. They are not, and never will be.

Pedro Centeno, Badajoz, Spain

Why can a newspaper or trade union support a candidate and the Church can't? In a mature democracy everybody makes public his opinion and so does rightly the Spanish bishops.

Nando, BRUSSELS, Belgium

Bishops are not campaigning for any given party. They never have. They remind catholics of the basic principles of their faith and ask them to act accordingly.

No wonder Zapatero is getting nervous and starting to have recourse to bullying tactics, and in his own words revelling in the tension he believes will win him the elections this time, in the absence, we hope, of terrorist acts to manipulate in his benefit.

Church funding is part payment of enormously beneficial social work carried out by the church in areas which the state cannot cope with and simply abandons. If the state were to take charge of this work, its cost would more than double.

The church is free to give its opinion, and even eventually give recommendations as to vote, as we all are, including the Junta Islamica, or Spain's embarassing troupe of heavily subsidised millionaire actors, or Gay organisations who all ask openly for a vote for Zapatero. Why shouldn't the church be entitled to have its say?

Manuela Fernandez Flor, Paracuellos, Spain

For those of us who love freedom, let bishops take care of their herds, but since they receive 950 million euros a year from the Spanish government they should at least show some respect and not bite the hand that feeds them. Otherwise, refrain from any subsidy from the Spanish government and the Church would be absolutely free to say what they feel like.

Fernando Cano, Madrid, Spain

Zapatero behaves quite cautiously in the very thin line that divides dogma from human reason. In the XII century, Averroes saved the works of Aristoteles saying that metaphysics was just philosophical truth not questining Theological truth, to avoid the religious authorities. After eight centuries, Voltaire, Hume, so many others, including Heisenberg etc. ve are so far away of those priests, that if they are expected to do something for Spain is nothing else than to organise processions with saints and all the paraphernalia to fight climate change, or to have rains... ¡Now that Benedictus XVI is revindicating physical hell somewhere beyond the Hubble! Anything but to interfere in what belongs to the human right to reason. Even if it is in the very weird domain of ethics and politics.

Oriol Gaspar, Barcelona, Spain

Give thanks to the bishops that we still have them to stand up for the sanctity of the human family. Don't expect the heathens and barbarians to go easy - they never have.
Viva Cristo Rey!

Marcum, San Francisco, CA/USA

Zapatero is showing his determination towards the Bishops intrusions in civil affairs. Zapetero is right and his politic is very good!
Thank you José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to preserve a secular state in Spain

Pier Paolo Marchisio, York,

"the Church must respect the elected Government and refrain from campaigning for the opposition"

No, it's the Church's right, and her duty, to guide her people on the way they should vote having regard to the moral issues and the party most likely to accept the Church's moral line is the party Catholics should vote for.

I hope they continue to campaign against the disgraceful Zapatero. They've obviously got him running scared.

Martin, Hereford, England

I wish our own church would show some of the same resolve and vigour that the Catholic church displays in Spain.

Denis Collins, Colchester,

Religious superstition has no place in government, the Bishops should get on with what they're paid for, terrifying the gullible, and leave the running of countries to those democratically elected to do so.

Alan C, Bixter, Shetland

Viva Christo Rey!
God bless the Spanish bishops in there efforts to save Christian civilisation.

James Stubbs, COVENTRY,