The executive secretary of FEREDE, lawyer Carolina Bueno, explained that “there are precedents in which the Spanish state has already provided a solution similar to the one we are asking for, such as that of the Ikastola teachers”, the Basque language teachers in the Basque Country who were not allowed to pay contributions under Franco’s regime.
“The state recognised their right to a pension and also created a budget line to cover the capital cost of their contributions. This is what we are also asking for”, she adds.
“We talk a lot about the rule of law and the Constitution here in Spain” points out Manzanas, “but in the end we do not comply with the Constitution, and rights are not for everyone”.
“Our parents worked in the church full time out of vocation, knowing that they had no right to a pension, but that does not mean that that is not an injustice and that while other groups have been compensated, pastors continue to be the forgotten ones”, says Vidal.
Like their parents, Marcos and David are also affected by this situation, albeit partially, as they both worked for several years before 1999, when evangelical pastors were finally allowed to pay contributions. This prevents them from being able to access their retirement pension in due time and with 100% of their salary.
The current government has the issue denounced by evangelical Christians on the table. The question is whether the solution will come soon, before the potential beneficiaries, most of whom are now very old, can see their rights recognised and satisfied.
Along with financial reparation, FEREDE is also asking for moral reparation for the discrimination suffered by evangelical pastors, as ruled by the ECHR. “We ask for reparation to be made to the victims of this injustice”, concludes Carolina Bueno.
Source link : https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/25854/spanish-forgotten-pastors
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Publish date : 2024-03-18 07:00:00
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