Step to freedom by Spanish Church?

FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
CARDINAL Enrique Tarancon, Primate of Spain, urged Spanish bishops on Monday to "set clear directions and make firm decisions" on the questions affecting the country's Catholic Church "in a time of renovation."
He was speaking at the opening of the 15th Spanish Episcopal Conference, which, Church sources said. was expected to mark another step in the gradual moving away of the Church from the Franco regime and towards the adaptation of its own independent line in social and political matters.
Subjects expected to be discussed were relations between Church and State including the still pending Concordat between the Vatican and the Spanish Government, and suggestions that retired bishops should be stripped of voting rights.
LIBERALS This, if approved, would strengthen the conference's liberal wing, composed of younger bishops who are all strong supporters of Cardinal Tarancon.
The conference will also discuss the decisions taken by a national conference of bishops and priests in September. This came out in favour of separation of Church and State and the granting of full human rights to Spaniards. It also urged that members of the clergy should refuse political appointments.