Spain teachers face 'Inquisition'

The Spanish government is to ask the Pope to give up the Roman Catholic Church's power over the teaching of religion in Spanish state schools after claims of a "new Inquisition" against teachers.

Spanish bishops are said to have sacked those deemed to be sinful.

Josep Pique, the foreign minister, said he would raise the issues with the Vatican during a visit next week. "It's the Inquisition all over again," said Francisca Urbano, who worked in Malaga as a teacher of religion for 10 years until the local bishop recently refused to renew her contract.

Teachers said that several of their colleagues had been sacked on the orders of local bishops. One woman was reportedly sacked for drinking with male colleagues, another for marrying a divorcee and others for not attending Mass.