The Cristo Yaciente del Santo Sepulcro brotherhood in Guadalajara is facing criticism for referring to the Spanish Civil War as the "Liberation Crusade" in their Holy Week book. This terminology, used in their 1948 statutes, has been condemned by the Guadalajara Memory Forum and Izquierda Unida (IU) as a justification for the coup d'état and the war itself.
The Forum argues that this language is an unacceptable political instrumentalization of a religious festival, lacking sensitivity towards victims and their families. They accuse the mayor of perpetuating national Catholicism and glorifying the dictatorship. The criticism extends to the Bishop of Sigüenza-Guadalajara for allowing such language, which the Forum states harms the Catholic Church's moral legitimacy. IU requests the book's physical and digital removal and re-edition in acceptable terms for a democracy.
The brotherhood's past controversy involving a Nazi symbol in an exhibition is mentioned. Both the brotherhood and the Guadalajara City Council, which promotes the Holy Week publication, claim no intention of glorifying the past and cite the original founding documents. The City Council asserts it doesn't censor publications from other entities that receive public funding.
The article highlights the conflicting views regarding the use of historical terminology and the role of religious organizations in memorializing historical events. The ongoing debate regarding the interpretation and potential harms associated with potentially insensitive language concerning the Spanish Civil War is central to the article's discussion.