Papal Envoy to Spain says times they are a’ changin’

Monsignor Manuel Monteiro de Castro told a conference of Spanish bishops at the weekend: “The new political situation in which we are living in Spain sets new challenges in the spreading of the gospel and we must meet those challenges in an appropriate manner.”

Departing from his prepared speech, the papal nuncio added that although the law in Spain, and many other countries, defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman, “there are other forms of cohabitation and it is good that they be recognised”.

The uncommonly outspoken remarks, reported in the Spanish press, will cause extreme annoyance within a papal circle desperate to stop the encroachment of what it sees as decadent sexual morality.

Although he insisted that same-sex unions could not be regarded as marriages, the envoy implied that they were at least worthy of compassion.

“They are not the same as marriage,” he said. “We will leave the term marriage for that which it has always referred to, and other arrangements should be given other names.”

The nuncio said gay couples should be given access to certain civil rights, including those within the social security system. He added: “The church can also help them in their spiritual life.”

Well, I hope the Church would help people with their spiritual lives. Sure.