SPAIN:Spain's prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero had to cancel his St Valentine's night supper with his wife.
Instead he had a three-hour dinner with papal nuncio Manuel Monteiro in his official residence. Their aim was to "smooth out friction" between the Spanish state and the Catholic Church.
Relations between the socialists and the church have always been tense, but their differences escalated in recent weeks as the country prepares for next month's general elections. They reached a new low last month when two of the country's most conservative cardinals openly attacked the government and, without actually naming them, called on the faithful to vote for the opposition Popular Party.
Only days later, the situation worsened when Msgr Juan Antonio Martínez Camino, spokesman for the Episcopal Conference, went even further and denounced the clause in the 1978 democratic constitution which defines Spain as a secular state. "Laicism," he said, "leads to dictatorship, discrimination and disorder giving way to a spineless society which can easily fall victim to manipulation, corruption and authoritarianism".
Msgr Martínez Camino added: "Catholics should vote for programmes compatible with Christian faith." The bishops describe many decisions taken during the past four years of the socialist government as "immoral". They specifically attacked the legalisation of same-sex marriages, in vitro fertilisation, stem cell research, the abolition of religion studies as a subject in schools and the decision to hold talks with the Basque guerilla movement Eta.
Although details of their dinner have not been released, the atmosphere was described as "cordial". The prime minister is believed to have asked for respect from the bishops and called on them to refrain from interference in the political sovereignty of the country. The prime minister, who is a non-Catholic, told the Vatican's representative that the bishops should respect the constitution which guarantees religious freedom for all faiths and decrees a separation between church and state.
Another serious difference between the government and the bishops is the radio station Cope, which is financed and supported by the Episcopal Conference. Many of Cope's journalists are openly opposed to the government and its supporters.
Last year, in an attempt to improve relations with the Vatican, Mr Zapatero appointed a new ambassador to the Holy See, Francisco Vázquez. The long-time socialist mayor of Coruna in Galicia is one of the few leading socialists who openly declares and practises his Catholic faith.
On his arrival in Rome he said he was determined to heal the wounds between the Vatican and Madrid. "The Left should make an effort not to view the church as an enemy. But I believe Mr Zapatero's decision to appoint a socialist Catholic like me as ambassador is a clear expression of his desire for dialogue with the church."
But he was also critical of the radio station and blamed the church for its outspoken opinions.
"As a Catholic I cannot understand how the Spanish bishops do not put an end to the problems with Cope."