Collective Letter of the Spanish Bishops, 1937 facts for kids

The Collective Letter of the Spanish Bishops, 1937 was a special letter written by Spanish bishops. It was meant to explain and support Francisco Franco's uprising, which had started the Spanish Civil War. Franco wanted to show the world that he was defending the Church. He was upset because some European Catholics criticized him. They condemned not only the killing of priests in the Republican zone but also the killing of workers and farmers in the Nationalist zone.

Most Spanish bishops had already spoken in favor of Franco's actions, but Franco wanted more. On May 10, 1937, Franco asked Isidro Goma y Tomas, a cardinal, to write a letter. This letter was for bishops around the world and was meant to be published in Catholic newspapers. Its goal was to "set out truth clearly." Goma quickly started working on this statement, which was designed to influence Catholic opinion internationally.

The letter was dated July 1, 1937. However, it wasn't widely shared until August. This delay allowed time to get signatures from a few bishops who weren't sure about signing. It also ensured that bishops worldwide received the letter before the news media reported its contents.

Cardinal Goma edited the letter. Enrique Pla y Deniel, the Bishop of Salamanca, made some changes. Eijo Garay, the Bishop of Madrid-Alcala, added more parts. The letter described the Civil War as an "armed plebiscite," meaning a vote decided by fighting. It also talked about the meaning of the conflict. The letter's description of the killings of priests and nuns had a strong impact on those who read it. Goma strongly supported Franco. However, he also warned about the danger of Nazi influence. He said that a "foreign ideology" could pull Spain away from Christian ideas and create "enormous problems."

Bishops Who Did Not Sign

Forty-three bishops and five church officials signed the letter. Five bishops did not sign it, and their reasons varied.

Cardinal Francisco Vidal y Barraquer

Francisco Vidal y Barraquer, the Cardinal Archbishop of Tarragona, was the most important bishop who didn't sign. He was living in exile in Italy in 1937 and was never allowed to return to Spain. In January 1939, Franco's ambassador told him he couldn't go back to his church area. The main reason given was that he hadn't signed the Collective Letter. Vidal believed that in this war, where people from the same country fought each other, the Church should not pick a side. Instead, it should work for peace.

Other Non-Signers

• Torres Ribas, the Bishop of Menorca, was very old, almost blind, and out of touch. He was on an island controlled by the Republican side.
• Cardinal Segura was in Rome. Goma did not ask him to sign because he had already resigned as the Archbishop of Toledo.
• Javier de Irastorza Loinaz, Bishop of Orihuela-Alicante, had been told to live outside his church area since 1935.
• Mateo Mugica Urrestarazu, the Bishop of Vitoria, was very upset. Many priests, nuns, monks, and Catholic followers had been killed by the Nationalists. He refused to sign a document that praised how Franco's side used harsh control. In a letter to the Holy See in June 1937, Mugica wrote: "The Spanish bishops say justice is well managed in Franco's Spain, but this is simply not true. I have long lists of devoted Christians and excellent priests who have been murdered without punishment, trial, or any legal process."
• A sixth bishop, Justi Guitart i Vilardebo, the Bishop of Urgel, almost didn't sign. Goma pressured him with "menacing" words. He told the bishop that even though Mugica and Vidal had special reasons not to sign, the agreement of the others was "guarantee enough that we are not going down the wrong road." Guitart rejected these threats. He finally agreed to sign because Vidal y Barraquer told him he should.

Problems with the Letter

Alvarez Bolado, a writer who studied the role of religion in the Civil War, pointed out four main problems with the letter:

Ignoring Social Issues

The letter made social problems seem less important. Goma too easily cleared the Spanish Church of blame. Critics said the Church, like the rich, had forgotten the poor. They also said the Church seemed to support right-wing political groups in elections. These groups opposed social changes. When they won elections in 1933, they undid some good, moderate changes made between 1931 and 1933.

Simplifying the Basque Problem

The letter made the unique situation of the Basque people seem too simple.

Lack of Democratic Ideas

The letter did not show an understanding of democratic ideas in politics. It was too simple to call the Republican side "Communists." Also, the praise given to Franco's side showed Goma's connections with a very conservative political group called Accion Espanola.

Hiding Information about Repression

The letter did not provide enough information, and it hid details about the harsh control and punishment in the Nationalist zone. Alvarez Bolado called this "the gravest defect of the document."

See also

In Spanish: Carta colectiva de los obispos españoles con motivo de la guerra en España para niños