Bulls not the only ones charging in Pamplona

Those scenes of mobs madly running through the streets of Pamplona, Spain to stay just ahead of a charging stampede of bulls each year already look incomprehensible. How could they do that, one wonders?! 

But the festivities in Pamplona took an uglier turn this year.

Archbishop Fernando Sebastian of Pamplona has called for “an act of reparation” to be made on July 15 for the blasphemy committed by the Muthiko Alaiak club, which carried a banner of the crucified Christ with his hand raised in the Nazi salute during the San Fermin Festival.

The San Fermin Festival is often better known as the festival in which the running of the bulls takes place in Pamplona.

What motivated that? News accounts don’t speculate. But the archbishop is addressing the public offense, whatever prompted the blasphemy.

The actions by the club profoundly wound “the religious sentiments of many thousands of Christians,” Archbishop Sebastian stated, adding that the San Fermin Festival “gives no one the right to insult or wound the sentiments of others, including their religious sentiments.”

Therefore he has invited the faithful to gather at the Santa Marta la Real Square on July 15 to participate in a procession that will end with Mass at the Cathedral. 

“As the one responsible for the Church in Navarra, I publicly protest this behavior that profanes one of the most sacred symbols for Christians and degrades the social and humane quality of our festival,” the archbishop said.   He encouraged Catholics to “demand respect for the symbols of our faith through all legal means,” and he called on authorities to defend the right of Catholics “to be treated with respect and to be protected in our beliefs and religious sentiments.”

That a courageous, pro-active, responsible Church leader. His encouragement goes out to all Catholics, and anyone, anywhere can join that “act of reparation” on July 15. Don’t tolerate evil. Do something good. Say a prayer.

Here’s one.