By Nicolás de Cárdenas
ACI Prensa Staff, Jan 3, 2025 / 06:00 am
Spain’s bishops are speaking out after the host of a new year’s countdown on Spanish public television showed during the broadcast a picture with the face of the mascot of a well-known program in place of the face of Jesus on a traditional image of the Sacred Heart.
Laura Yustres Vélez, known as “Lalachús,” is a Spanish actress and comedian who appears on the program “La Revuelta” (“The Revolt”), a nighttime comedy show on Spanish public television characterized by its irreverent humor and asking the show’s guests about their sex life and financial worth.
Yustres starred on the New Year’s Eve episode along with David Broncano, host of “La Revuelta,” in a segment from the Puerta del Sol, a large plaza in Madrid, as its famous clock chimed the last few moments of 2024.
At one point during the broadcast, Lalachús showed an image in which the face of a bull that is a character on “El Gran Prix,” a well-known family entertainment show in Spain, was superimposed over where the face of Jesus would be in an image of the Sacred Heart.
The image includes a halo behind the character’s head, a Sacred Heart on the chest on which the left hand rests, and the right hand is raised with three fingers extended and two folded, symbolizing the Trinity.
“I always carry my little image of the Vaquilla [‘the cute bull’] of the ‘Gran Prix’ with me,” said Yustres, showing it to the viewers as one of her amulets for the new year.
Spanish bishops react
The president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Luis Argüello, said he was saddened by the controversial image.
Controversy Surrounding TVE’s Mockery of Catholic Symbol
Recently, there has been uproar over the Spanish public television network, TVE, for their disrespectful portrayal of the Catholic symbol of the heart. This incident has sparked outrage among prominent religious figures in Spain.
One such figure, the Archbishop of Seville, José Ángel Saiz Meneses, condemned the mockery, questioning the lack of awareness and sensitivity shown by those responsible. He expressed his disappointment, stating, “The saddest thing is that those responsible are not aware of what they’re doing. Once again banality surrounds us.”
Adding to the criticism, Archbishop of Oviedo, Jesús Sanz Montes, highlighted the double standard in society, pointing out that similar mockery of other religious symbols, like that of Mohammed, would not be tolerated. He emphasized the need for respect and sensitivity towards all faiths.
Bishop of Vitoria, Juan Carlos Elizalde, echoed these sentiments, asserting the importance of recognizing the rights and dignity of Catholics in a predominantly Catholic country. He stated, “Catholics are not second-class citizens, and even less so in a country where the vast majority of citizens are baptized or are children of Catholics.”
In response to the incident, Bishop of Bilbao, Fernando Prado, called for action, encouraging viewers to boycott TVE and choose alternative television options in protest. He urged, “Let us show our disapproval by opting for other channels next year.”
Conocidas hoy las audiencias, decir que más de 43.000.000 de habitantes no siguieron las campanadas por la cadena pública TVE. El año que viene seremos muchos más. Invito a “protestar” eligiendo entre otras opciones.
