The former spokesman for the Episcopal Conference presides over a mass in the Valley of the Fallen called by the extreme right
There was a mass in memory of the beginning of the Civil War this July 18, as announced exclusively by elDiario.es. With the monks singing and offering their prayers for the fallen "and reconciliation". But it was not the only ceremony that took place in Cuelgamuros. The morning before (July 18, Monday, the site was closed and only the monks participated), and convened by the Spanish Catholic Movement and the Spanish Youth Action, hundreds of people attended "a mass in commemoration of July 18 in the Valley of the Fallen”, as reported by the far-right group on their social networks. The officiant was none other than the auxiliary bishop of Madrid and former secretary general of the Episcopal Conference, Juan Antonio Martínez Camino.
Mass in commemoration of July 18 in the Valley of the Fallen 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/ldA1mBgW1a
— Spanish Catholic Movement (@MCE_AJE) July 17, 2022
As elDiario.es has been able to confirm, Martínez Camino presided over the ceremony, accompanied by the prior of the Valley, Santiago Cantera, and four other Benedictines, among whom was the abbot emeritus, Anselmo Álvarez. At the end of it, and according to the AJE story"Monsignor Martínez Camino retired blessing".
For the far-right groups, the presence of Camino "is interpreted as very significant in support of the place and the monks and choir boys, as well as the many faithful and the relatives of the thousands of buried in this place, now that it is becoming more acute. the perverse intention of the Popular Front government and its separatist partners to completely desecrate this site and radically transform it, or close it down, or destroy it.”
At the end of the mass, a young woman placed the 5 symbolic roses on the tomb of José Antonio, which was accompanied by prayers. They also prayed at the cenotaph where, in the past, the remains of the dictator Francisco Franco rested, before going to the Arco de la Victoria, where the 'celebrations' of what they called 'El Uprising' continued, and which continued with a floral offering in Mingorrubio.
What was Martínez Camino doing there? The Archbishopric of Madrid explains that the auxiliary bishop "was last weekend at the Hospedería del Valle de los Caídos" to give a conference on Saint Rafael Arnaiz. According to the diocese, “in the framework of the conference they asked him to preside over the conventual mass in the basilica on Sunday and he did so”, without there being “any political reference because the temples are not a place for acts of this type”, he assures the diocese. The circumstance occurs that it will be the Archbishopric of Madrid who negotiates with the Government the future of the basilica. Camino is considered one of the greatest opponents of the Cardinal of Madrid, Carlos Osoro.
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