The Catholic church in Spain is drawing up plans to excommunicate every member of the Basque separatist group ETA, a Spanish newspaper today reported. El Mundo said the secret project is the inspiration of the cardinal of Madrid, Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, who will present the proposal to the Spanish Episcopal conference for its approval on April 24. If adopted, the measures would ban holding funerals in church for suspected ETA members.
According to the daily, Spanish priests are in favour of automatic excommunication, known as "latae sententiae," for both the perpetrators and accomplices in alleged terrorist acts. This type of excommunication is already in force in abortion cases. The Spanish Catholic church has faced regular criticism for complacency and failing to loudly condemn attacks by ETA, which is fighting for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southern France. ETA has been blamed for 25 killings since it called off a truce in December 1999.
