The cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra (Castañeda, Cantabria, 74 years old) came to the pontificate of Madrid, in October 2014, to make the Church “a house of harmony.” So what he said in the inauguration as a substitute of the then almighty cardinal Antonio María Rouco. Is the prelate chosen by Francis for the lead in Spain with a spring in the church. Six years later, some parishes and the Vatican Embassy have appeared with painted. “Osoro is Judas,” bishops “traitors”, they said, among other criticisms. There is a renewed anti-clericalism of the right, such as that which arose against the cardinal Vicente Enrique and Tarancón in the seventies, by promoting that the roman Church was to deny their complicity with the dictatorship.
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“Tarancón al paredón”, then said the painted the Guerrillas of Christ the King. “Osoro to the firing squad” cry now the ultra-right, jaleada by catholic media. Francis labeled a heretic, even some cardinals, with contempt, imposing. You say “Papacisco”, “armalíos”, “the antichrist”. There is No week that do not express the same rejection by the cardinal Osoro for being the face of the Pontiff argentine in Spain.
Question. Is it true that the Pope refuses to come to Spain precisely because of this atmosphere of discord intraeclesial?
Response. That is not the reason. The Pope has made a choice, that is to travel to the poorest countries or where christianity has problems or is incipient. For example, just to travel to Japan, where there are very few catholics.
Q. But has been in France, visited Germany, was in USA… he Says that he will come to Spain when you are in peace.
A. I don’t share that interpretation.
Q. Have you discussed the matter with the Pope?
A. Yes.
Q. do they Talk often?
A. sometimes. The Pope is well-informed, not only about Spain, about humanity in general. Has a capacity, and some extraordinary skills, and a great vitality.
we had Lunch alone in the dining room of the small apartment in which lives the cardinal, a stone’s throw from the plaza mayor of Madrid. Presides over the salon a portrait of the mother. The rest of the décor summarizes the biography of the first prelate of Spain: a picture of the cathedral of Orense, his first destination; a sculpture of the Santina de Covadonga from when he was archbishop of Oviedo; memories of his pontificate in Valencia and the flags of the four locations in which he has been prelate. Vocation late, did civilian career, he was a professor, he had girlfriend before becoming priest at Salamanca, and was initiated as a priest in a parish Torrelavega (Cantabria) where they took refuge strikers pursued by the police. It was then when he forged a way of being that distinguishes him from the bishops to the use: gives hugs, shakes hands with force and talks with the journalists. “What, though, of course, what better to criticize me because he’s grant to THE COUNTRY this interview”.
Q. it Was said of Benedict XVI that he was surrounded by wolves. Finally, he left the office. Against Francisco have been unleashed on the tigers.
A. There are groups that feel cheated, but not as much as tigers… The Pope’s responses to the problems, the commitment to the poor, their complaints for the mistreatment of migrants and its commitment to dialogue with other religions. It is normal to have criticism, but I don’t see that are so many.
Q. do you Think that the leaders unhappy feel alluded to when Francis asks for a poor Church, for the poor and smell like sheep?
A. of Course it has to do with that. But it is all in the life of Jesus. God is the father of all the world, and also of those who are not in our Church.
Q. There are bishops who still claim that outside their Church there is no salvation, and even that error has no rights. In contrast, Francis rejects hell as eternal damnation, as the punishment of the merciless.
A. The Pope is not put in doubt the hell, but makes observations unique. And is optimistic, despite the serious problems of the humanity. I also am one. The virtues have more force than the defects.
Q. There is also criticism of the decision to abolish the pontifical secret to the abuse of children by priests.
A. there is Always resistance. By the way, I have to say that there has been less abuse in the Church than in other organizations.
Q. The difference is that the priests and bishops believe moral points of reference. Clerics who abuse minors use of power and impunity that comes from the Church itself.
A. Clear. The Church must be exemplary and lead by example. It is what has been proposed by the Pope and so we criticize some. But don’t be afraid to open the doors. When they open, to facilitate the solutions.
Q. Francisco Franco, the grandson of the dictator, told him by letter that never more, neither he nor his followers, will mark the equis in favor of the Church in the forms of income TAX. Blame him for having facilitated the exhumation of the dictator. What he answered?
A. Nothing. I don’t have nothing to say. That is an issue to overcome.
Q. it Is said that in exchange for not opposing you to the exhumation, the current Government makes them the favor of not posting the relationship of the tens of thousands of inmatriculaciones made by the bishops.
A. Is the first time that I hear it. It has nothing to do, at all.
Q. On the inmatriculaciones, I read recently in the catholic magazine New Life, after the abuse scandal, nothing does more damage to the Church that the perception that inmatricula property and execute contracts with the indifference of any vulture fund.
A. All has been done within the law, there has been no privileges.
Q. Mariano Rajoy’s Government abolished the privilege of the bishops because he was such a privilege and there have been abuses. If the current Executive denies the data is because there is something that you do not like that you know.
A. I don’t have that perception. My news don’t tell me that.
Q. About any problems you have the archbishopric with the sale of some of its real estate, they are accused of behaving as huraños tenants.
A. When you are given such news it seems that everything makes itself the Church. Chair of foundations that have properties, but we are not alone on the boards. Are also other institutions, such as the mayor of Madrid and the Community. The news is to blame the bishop.
