The Government Delegate of Madrid, Francisco Martin Aguirrehas once again banned the prayer of Rosario in it Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Marylocated at Calle Ferraz 74. This impediment extends to June 8 and 9arguing that coincide with the day of reflection and the day of the European elections, respectively. The decision has generated a new confrontation with the Catholic faithful who regularly come to this place to pray.
José Andrés Calderon, a young organizer of Rosario in Ferraz, received an official statement on May 28 notifying him of the ban. This measure is based on a resolution of the Provincial Electoral Board of Madridwhich maintains that “it is not authorized June 8 for being a day of reflection and June 9 for being the day of election day«. This position contrasts with the jurisprudence of the constitutional Court which, in its Sentence 96/2010, affirms that the day of reflection and the elections are not sufficient reasons to prohibit meetings, unless it is proven that their objective is to attract votes.
The controversy arises because, according to the Constitutional Court, a demonstration can only be prohibited if concrete evidence is provided that its purpose is electoral, that is, obtaining votes. In the words of the Court: «The exercise of the right of assembly must prevailunless it is sufficiently proven that the call has as its main objective the capture of votes. This implies that any meeting or demonstration could, indirectly, influence the political debate. and in the decisions of voters, but this is not sufficient reason for its prohibition.
Calderon, who He was already fined 3,600 euros for organizing prayers on January 2, 3 and 4, has declared that Catholics They will not comply with this new prohibition. “We are facing a new attack by the Government Delegate,” he stated. «They can fine us or accuse us of an electoral crime, but we will continue praying. We pray in defense of our Faith and to ask the Virgin that the message of her Son be present in our hearts. “We will disobey all openly tyrannical prohibitions that violate our right to pray.”
The conflict has escalated with Calderón’s announcement that They will go to the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid to appeal this decision. They maintain that no valid legal argument has been provided to justify the ban and that they have not even been allowed to argue against the Electoral Board’s resolution.
In his statements, Calderón has stressed that “we have not been informed or allowed to allege anything about the agreement of the Electoral Board. Catholics in Spain We are being persecuted by characters who use all means at their disposal to prohibit us from praying.. “There is not a single legal argument given to justify why we are not authorized to pray.”
The Government Delegate, however, maintains his position of prohibiting the Rosary, supported by the resolution of the Provincial Electoral Board. The situation continues to generate tension and the result of this legal controversy will be crucial to determine whether the recitation of the Rosary will be allowed on the indicated dates.