A national housing agreement and support for pregnant women are among the demands of the Spanish bishops.

Before addressing the matters discussed by the Standing Committee of the CEE, the Secretary General, Monsignor Francisco César Garcia Magán, introduced the new Director of the Information Office appointed by the Spanish bishops, Carmen Ramírez, of which she had been Deputy Director since 2023.

Carmen Ramírez replaces in the position José Gabriel Vera Beorlegui, a priest of the Archdiocese of Pamplona and Tudela, who has held this position since January 2015.

Demand for a State policy

The Spanish bishops did not discuss housing or evictions at the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Spanish Episcopal Conference held recently. It was not on the agenda. However, the Secretary General, Monsignor César García Magán, He stated that "we all see the lack of housing, promises are made about new housing, but then that is not carried out, and that requires a State pact from all political forces.".

García Magán has expressed concern about the decrees approved by the Government, and points out that it is not about carrying out "a one-off solution", but about having "a long-term vision" and making a State policy, which goes beyond partisanship, and facing "a general reflection on a housing policy".

“See the systemic cause”

Regarding the eviction, the Secretary General has proposed that it be addressed from a national perspective, without being reduced to a specific case, such as "the recent eviction of Mrs. Maricarmen" in Madrid: "There are many evictions in other autonomous communities, more than in this community where it has occurred.".

“We reacted in an emergency, but we have to look at the systemic cause,” he added, quoting arguments made by Pope Leo XIV to journalists.

Regarding the encampment in Sol, he valued the demand for rights, but said "it is necessary to combine the needs of residents and merchants and, above all, to exclude violence.".

Support for women who decide to become mothers

Regarding the pro-abortion campaign promoted in a recent campaign (whatever you do, it will be okay), also in response to questions from journalists, Garcia Magán said that “I wish it were entirely true, because if you want to be a mother, and continue with the pregnancy, it should also be okay to receive support (that part of the budget that has been directed towards abortion), I wish that at least the same amount had been allocated to those women who choose and decide to be mothers, because whatever you do, it's okay.”.

Implications of the messages of Pope Leo XIV in Spain

The first topic that has been addressed by Standing Committee It has been to gather the implications that the speeches and homilies of Pope Leo XIV can have in each area in his visit to Spain, which took place from June 6 to 12. Once incorporated, they will be presented at the November Plenary.

In this sense, the text of the Pastoral Guidelines of the CEE for the four-year period 2026-2030 —”Set out on your journey!”— was open to receive the words of the Holy Father and the guidelines he left on his apostolic journey to our country. 

Synodality in the EEC and commissions 

Bishop Francisco Conesa, the Spanish Episcopal Conference's designated representative for the Synod, has presented several proposals to the Permanent Committee for a review of the synodal procedures within the Conference. This work will culminate in the Synodal Assembly of the Episcopal Conference, scheduled for the second half of 2027. 

Lay ministry in the service of charity

Among other work topics, the Episcopal Commission for Evangelization, Catechesis and Catechumenate, chaired by Monsignor José Rico, has presented the initiative to create a lay ministry instituted in the service of charity. 

And the bishops have studied various proposals from the Commission for Education and Culture, the Episcopal Subcommittee for the Family and the Defense of Life, the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications, and the Episcopal Commission for the Liturgy.

The Standing Committee has approved allocating financial aid to contribute to the rehabilitation of the temples damaged in Granada by the earthquakes last August, and for the reconstruction of the diocesan seminary in Pereira, Colombia. 

The next Plenary Assembly will take place from November 16 to 20. 

Other Appointments

Among other appointments, the bishops have approved the appointment of Javier María Prades López as a member of the Editorial Board of the Library of Christian Authors (BAC), and have authorized the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral Care and Human Promotion to appoint Juan Manuel Bajo Llauradó, a priest from the diocese of Tortosa, as director of the Department of Pastoral Care for Health. 

In addition, Rosa María Murillo Fuentes has been re-elected national president of “Cursillos de Cristiandad de España” and Javier Ramos Guardiola, president of the association “Acción Católica General” (ACG).