This post is by guest author David Velasquez, missionary to Spain
#5: Spain has officially legalized abortion
On February 24, 2010 the Spanish parliament, in its majority run by the liberal socialist party, approved a bill that makes it much easier to get an abortion in Spain. Since 1985 the country had allowed abortions but only in the case of rape or when the mother or the child’s health was at risk.
Even though the new law does not go as far as many other countries in allowing partial birth abortions; it does give women the legal right to get an abortion through the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. This is the first time in the history of Spain that abortions are legal for any reason.
In the past decade under strict limitations yearly abortions had gone from nearly 50,000 to over 100,000. It is scary to imagine how drastically those numbers will increase under this new law. Thankfully in Spain there is a sector of the population that is staunchly opposed to the new law. In October of last year over 1 million people marched down a major Madrid boulevard with the slogan “Every Life Matters.”
The reason that this news is so important for Christians is because obviously the religion that has dominated Spain for centuries (the Catholic Church) has offered no true change or moral compass to its citizens.
You would think that a country that claims, for the most part, to be Catholic would adhere to God’s clear commands. The truth is that the Catholic Church has left people disillusioned with God and His word because they have not proclaimed the true gospel.
Most Spaniards equate God with the Catholic Church and since Catholicism has done nothing for them then God must be a lie. This has caused many to turn from belief in God to atheism, agnosticism and humanism. In a country that used to be 98% Catholic only 73% of Spaniards today self-identify as Catholics (only 15% are faithful to church), 2% claim another faith (that would include every belief under the sun), and 22% identify with no religion.
We are not on a mission to externally reform Spain, but we do realize that as the true gospel of hope and peace is preached those that are saved will become a new creation in Christ. This regeneration will allow them to understand and obey God’s Word. They will only understand the love of God after His grace and mercy has been poured out in their lives. And as they begin to grow spiritually they will truly understand that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” in God’s image.
Yes, it is sad that Spain has passed such a horrific law, but all that tells me is that they are sinners and in need of a Saviour. Please pray that this law would be repealed, but more importantly that a true spiritual revival would sweep across the nation. Pray for the missionaries that are preparing to go to Spain as well as for those that are currently on the field that we would make an impact for His honor and glory.
