wfn.org | Spain: Government conditions benefits for

[APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com]

Protestants on electoral result 

March 5, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Spain: Government conditions benefits for 
Protestants on electoral result

Madrid, Spain.   Finance Minister Rodrigo Rato 
said they will try to reach an economic agreement 
with Evangelical Churches and the Muslim and 
Jewish community in the next legislature "as long 
as they are re-elected in March 2000 legislative 
elections."

Rato, who is also second vice president of the 
Spanish government, made these statements after 
announcing tax benefits in favour of the Roman 
Catholic Church and Non-Governmental 
Organisations (NGOs).

Evangelicals, represented before the State by the 
Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities of 
Spain (FEREDE) - including the Seventh-day 
Adventist Church -  have been demanding, together 
with the Jewish and Muslim communities, equal tax 
treatment for all religions.

FEREDE has reaffirmed that the money will not be 
used to sustain Churches but will be used for 
social works, pastor's pensions and 
representative aspects among others.

However, Rato's words not only leave the demand 
in suspense, but condition a favourable result on 
a positive outcome in upcoming legislative 
elections.

On the other hand Rato announced that people 
could deduct contributions made to the Roman 
Catholic Church or NGOs from their income tax 
next June.

Regarding NGOs, Rato said that important progress 
has been regarding their relationship with the 
government and these entities have a guaranteed 
budget contribution that could reach US$127 
million. Moreover, NGOs are not submitted to the 
Society's Tax.

Rato affirmed that Spain has pardoned more than 
US$375 million of the debt it had with poorer 
nations. [Contribution Agencia Latinoamericana y 
Caribena de Comunicacion/ALC]