The Spanish Bureau of Interfaith Dialogue, which brings together the major Christian denominations in Spain, has submitted four petitions to the government. One is to find a solution for retired Protestant pastors who were unable to pay contributions.

They recently met with Mercedes Murillo, the general director of Religious Freedom at the ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts headquarters.

The meeting took place in response to a request submitted by the Bureau following the joint statement issued on 10 December 2024.

The interfaith committee delegation was made up of its president, Carolina Bueno (Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities of Spain – FEREDE); the vice-president, Mons. Timotei Laurant (Romanian Orthodox Church); and the secretary, Rev. Rafael Vázquez (Spanish Catholic Conference).

The repealing of the offence against religious feelings

During the meeting, held in a climate of collaboration and respect, they discussed the status of the proposed repeal of article 525 of the Penal Code, which criminalises the offence against religious feelings.

The representatives of the Bureau expressed the concern of Christian denominations that a climate of generalised disrespect towards people of any faith could be created.

They also stressed that repealing this offence would leave Christians and members of other religions without protection in the face of religiously motivated attacks and insults.

After a fruitful dialogue, they agreed to set up a working and dialogue group to address these issues, with the aim of protecting the fundamental right to religious freedom using all possible legal means.

Pensions of pastors

With the support of the other faiths represented in the Bureau, FEREDE reiterated its request to the Ministry of the Presidency and the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration for approval of a royal decree.

The main objective of the decree is to end the exclusion of Protestant pastors who were denied the right to pay Social Security contributions until 1999.

Joint letter

The Bureau agreed to send a joint letter to Félix Bolaños, the Minister of the Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Courts.

In the letter, in addition to supporting the approval of the royal decree requested by FEREDE, they asked that priests and religious men and women of the Romanian Orthodox Bishopric of Spain and Portugal, as well as of all Eastern Christian denominations, be permitted to pay Social Security contributions.

Furthermore, they requested the possibility of partial contributions for pastors and ministers who need to balance their ministry with a secular job.