MR. GRANT DUFFasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether recent legislation in Spain has prejudicially affected the position of persons dissenting from the established religion of that country; and, if so, to what extent?
§ MR. BOURKESir, in asking the Question he has, I conclude my hon. Friend alludes to Article 11 of the proposed Constitution, which has not yet become law, but which we are informed was passed by the Senate last Friday. I think I can best answer the Question by reading the Article—
The nation undertakes to maintain the worship and ministers of the Catholic religion, which is that of the State. No one shall be molested ('molestado') in the territory of Spain for his religious opinions, nor for the exercise of his particular worship, so long as it be consistent with the respect due to Christian morality. Nevertheless, no public ceremonies or manifestations other than those of the religion of the State will be permitted.The amount of religious liberty which this Article confers will to a great extent depend upon the interpretation which is 7 placed upon the words "public ceremonies and manifestations," and therefore I cannot say whether or not the "position of persons dissenting from the established religion will be prejudicially affected." But it is evident that under the law a considerable discretion will be left in the hands of the Executive, and I can assure my hon. Friend that Her Majesty's Government will not fail to use their exertions, in case they should be necessary, in favour of the cause of personal freedom.