Monastery of Rabanal del Camino

[geraldkelly]

Below is the text of an article from today's ABC newspaper translated by Google Translate...

Original here:
Los monjes de un monasterio leon?s se van de Espa?a tras ser abucheados - Sociedad_Religion - Sociedad - ABC.es


The monks of a monastery in Spain Leon go after being booed

ABC.es / EFE | LEON
Updated Friday, 28-08-09 at 17:02
The Benedictine monks of the Monastery of Rabanal del Camino (Le?n) have left Spain following the riots that occurred on 15 and 16 August in full Eucharistic celebration when the inhabitants of the village invited them to leave.
It was the town hall when neighbors taunted the monks, some episodes in which even it required the intervention of the Civil Guard to escort, as reported in a statement Benedictines themselves.
The official reason for the abandonment of the monastery for its part is they have been called to consult his superiors at the Abbey of Santa Otilia, Bavaria (Germany), have moved far.
In this version, the District Board in Rabanal del Camino and the City of Santa Colomba de Somoza, on which this town, which is step on the Camino de Santiago, opposes the restoration of the Romanesque church, a construction that, according to monks, dependent on the Castile and Leon, for which they are responsible to them.
The monks have regretted having to leave town, and who are serving the parishes in the area and hundreds of pilgrims who pass through this town and expressed its "intention to return as soon as possible to the people. In the same statement, have urged the authorities to assume their responsibilities and to restore peaceful coexistence and justice.
Meanwhile, neighbors Rabanal del Camino, where there are enumerated 46 inhabitants, do not even want to see the monks, or at least giving mass, as explained by the secretary of the neighborhood, Jos? Antonio Prieto, who says he does not respect their customs. The problem, according to the secretary of the neighborhood, which grew out of the village was made to collect signatures against the changes you want to do in the village church, which belongs to the monastery.
"They want to remove the clock, bell tower, cut the square and give more importance to San Benito, we have nothing against him," but is not as linked to the town to it. Following this collection of signatures, according to Prieto, the monks are angry and have avoided as was traditionally held the events to be held in the village to mark the celebrations of the 15th and 16th August.
Neither procession was held, and appeared to open the church, said Prieto, who has acknowledged that in this situation people "stood up" against them, but denied that they had uttered insults against them, at least he knows. What they ask is that the Bishop of Astorga (Leon) to send you a priest and the monks, who are currently mass in seven villages in the area, "stay with its monastery and its pilgrims. In winter, the Monastery of two monks living Rabanal, that number rises to about six in summer.

The Bishopric of Astorga, indignant
For its part, the Bishop of Astorga has issued a statement that the Benedictines have posted on their website www.monteirago.es, which is said to be "totally unacceptable harassment that was submitted to the Monastic Community Irago Mount and is a daring call to be the monks of his monastery. In addition, the diocese insisted that the restoration project "not monks competition since they are the church monument BIC (Bien cultural interest) can not do any work without the approval of Heritage". Monks also hope to return as soon as possible to continue the monastic life in his monastery, "attention to Rabanal and other people and pilgrims.
The Bishop praised the work of the monks and claims she is "a privilege" to have in a town that offers a monastic community liturgies "models valued by Christians of the village, the contour and the thousands of pilgrims who pass through Santiago and was Rabanal involved in these celebrations.

[Roseallee]

Hi Gerald,
Now that Google has given us their version, I still can't quite make hide nor hair of this. Have you any insights on what is actually going on? Sad, whatever it's about.This will affect all of us "pilgrims to be", as it would seem the monks did a fine job.? Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Roseallee