Spanish minister asks bishops' leader: 'What if we called the Church a band of sexual aggressors?'
Presidency minister Félix Bolaños sent a letter to the head of Spain's Episcopal Conference after Luis Argüello described the State as a 'band of thieves' during a summer school address.
Speech at the summer school
Luis Argüello, president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference and archbishop of Valladolid, closed a summer school on Thursday with a speech titled 'The collapse of democracy'. He told the audience at the Fundación Pablo VI in Madrid that 'when a State forgets ethics it becomes a band of thieves', adding 'I refer to the facts'. Argüello cited Saint Augustine and argued that democratic systems need an ethical reference point, warning that citizens who cheat on their taxes cannot demand integrity from their representatives.
He also attacked recent progressive legislation on sex and gender, calling it a 'project of anthropological deconstruction' and linking the LGTBIQ+ pride movement to 'the sin of Satan'. Argüello criticised the ban on conversion therapies, claiming it prohibits accompaniment while consolidating 'affirmation therapies'.
The minister's letter
Hours later, Félix Bolaños, minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts, sent a letter to Argüello expressing 'surprise' at the remarks. Bolaños called the reasoning 'unjust and deeply counterproductive' and posed a direct question.
What would you think if a member of the Government described the entire Church as a 'band of sexual aggressors, I refer to the evidence'?
He immediately added that such a statement would be 'false and profoundly unjust', noting that in their previous conversations he had never resorted to a disqualification of that magnitude.
A call for moderation
Bolaños urged Argüello to ensure relations between the two institutions are marked by 'moderation, respect and justice' rather than 'exaggeration and partisanship in favour of the right and far-right forces'. He held up the recent visit of Pope Leo XIV to Spain as an example of successful cooperation, describing it as a 'resounding pastoral and social success'.
Those who hold public office have a special obligation to guard their words in order to disarm language.
The minister closed by expressing confidence that the Pope's words would inspire Argüello to 'redirect his public statements' so they are more respectful towards society and its public representatives.
Previous friction
Thursday's exchange is not the first clash between the two. Last summer Argüello called for elections and has since appeared alongside Vox leader Santiago Abascal. Bolaños had already written to the bishops' president demanding 'political neutrality from the Church' after Argüello said in an interview that he would prefer a different political interlocutor.
