.- The Association of Spanish Soldiers called on military officials this week to respect and preserve religious traditions in the country. The statements came in response to a recent directive by the military to exclude Mass from official military ceremonies.
According to the Spanish daily, La Razon, the president of the association, Leopoldo Munoz, has challenged “the defense department to carry out a democratic survey on whether or not Mass should be included in military ceremonies.”
However, the United Association of Spanish Soldiers said religious freedom in the armed forces should be regulated, that all religions should be respected and that none should be “established as obligatorily” present in military acts.
On the other hand, the spokeswoman for the Congressional Defense Committee, Beatriz Rodriguez-Salmones, said the government should address these issues with sensitivity. “The traditions of the Armed Forces must be respected,” she said.
