been beaten and jailed for his Protestantism, died last week, aged 65.
"Don Santos", as he was called by his flock, lived to see what he called "a more open attitude of d" between Catholics and Protestants in Spain, but the legislation he promoted to protect non-Catholics is still waiting to be enacted.
Bishop Molina was often a target of bitter religious persecution. In 1940, when he was vicar 'of a church in Seville, he served three years in jail, charged by the government with being a Mason. Ile spent most of his sentence in a tiny cell with seven other prisoners.
In 1952 a gang oF youths— some allegedly wearing Catholic Action buttons—broke into his church, beat him up, burned his Bibles, hymnals and pews, crying "Down with Protestantism".
They were fined £30. One week
later the Catholic Archbishop of Seville issued a Pastoral Letter charging that Protestant leaders were "threatening Spain's religious unity".
Bishop Molina was consecrated a Bishop in 1956. Two years later he was invited to the Lambeth Conference of Bishops in London, but the Spanish government refused him an exit permit.
By 1964, however, he was able to say the "climate of prejudice" was "passing away".