Italy
In Italy’s population of 50 million 98 per cent are nominally Roman Catholics, but only about 25 per cent of these attend Mass. Among lower classes piety often degenerates into superstition; this is true particularly of the south, where religious festivals, pilgrimages and visits to local shrines play a large part in the lives of the peasants. In this world center of Roman Catholicism, one finds increasing agnosticism among the intelligentsia, and a higher proportion of Communists than in any other non-Soviet country in Europe.
Protestants number just over 100,000, with more than a quarter of these belonging to the Waldensian church, the only indigenous Protestant body (others have been founded by missionaries from foreign countries). This church, whose origins are traced back to Peter Waldo in the late twelfth century, has always placed a strong emphasis on biblical and evangelical teaching. It has congregations in many parts of Italy, and a theological college in Rome.
The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students, specially concerned with the country’s 21 universities, finds that students (not surprisingly in a country both ignorant and intolerant of Protestantism) are reluctant to show interest for fear of the priests. Nevertheless, small groups meet here and there for Bible study; others are reached as a result of correspondence courses and through the evangelical magazine Cerpezze, and one or two conversions are reported each year. A reading room has been opened in Rome.
J. D. DOUGLAS
Spain
Progress through persecution is the story of Spanish Protestantism during the past 50 years. The 4,000 evangelicals were greatly restricted but the coming of full religious freedom of the Republic in 1931 was not used to full advantage. Though funds were limited to further expand the work, a few new chapels were added to the already existing 166 churches. Three Bible vans went from town to village selling Scriptures and posting Gospel billboards on walls.
The Civil War years (1936–39) halted all progress and brought great losses to the churches. When General Franco closed almost all places of worship, services were held in private homes. Nevertheless, they were years of revival with many souls saved. Baptismal services were held secretly behind closed doors in the churches. The Spanish Bill of Rights issued in 1945 and Franco’s fear of United Nations repercussions brought the reopening of some 50 churches in 1946. When the Metropolitan bishops complained about this great advancement of Protestantism, some chapels were invaded and property destroyed and in a few instances physical harm done to those attending services by some fanatical Catholics. The government did try, however, to protect from further violence but, being influenced by the anti-Protestant propaganda, refused to give more permits to open new chapels and, in some cases, others were closed.
In spite of continued restrictions in not allowing schools for evangelical children, publishing of Protestant literature, and other public manifestations of the Christian faith, the number of Spanish evangelicals has quadrupled. Today’s 16,470 members of the 225 scattered churches face persecution but not without fearlessly witnessing in the pulpit, by the printed page, and through personal testimony to Spain’s 30 million inhabitants, nominally Catholic but mainly indifferent.
HAROLD J. KREGEL
[Harold J. Kregel is Executive Secretary of Literatura Evaugelica Española (Spanish Evangelical Literature fellowship), and has been a missionary in Spain since 1952 under Worldwide European Fellowship.]
Portugal
The first Protestant church in Catholic Portugal dates from 1839. Severe oppression curtailed growth until the founding of the Republic in 1910. Unfortunately, evangelicals were ill-equipped to capitalize on their new freedom before new restrictions took effect under the present regime, now 30 years old. But there has been progress. In 1935 4,000 church members met in 153 preaching places. Today active membership numbers 15,000 with attendance of 30,000 in 517 places of worship; 500 workers (part and full time), assisted by 36 missionaries, are distributed among 11 groups (Pentecostals, Brethren, Baptists and Presbyterians, being the largest in that order). The church’s needs are: greater unity, less dependence on foreign finances, more leaders spiritually and intellectually prepared.
RUSSELL P. SHEDD
[Dr. Russell P. Shedd is Professor of New Testament in the Seminário Teologico, Baptista de Leiria, Amadora, Portugal.]
