The Catholic Church in Spain is stepping forward to challenge the growing narrative of “national priority,” arguing that the fundamental rights and dignity of migrants must not be sidelined in favor of native citizens. In a series of critiques and pastoral reflections, the Church has signaled its opposition to policies and social attitudes that create a hierarchy of human value based on nationality or legal status.
This stance comes at a time of heightened political polarization in Spain, where the management of immigration remains a central flashpoint. By advocating for the marginalized, the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) is positioning itself against the rhetoric of exclusion, asserting that the “preferential option for the poor”—a cornerstone of Catholic Social Teaching—applies universally, regardless of a person’s place of birth.
At the heart of the debate is the tension between national sovereignty and universal human rights. While political factions often argue for the prioritization of local resources for Spanish citizens, the Church maintains that denying basic protections or legal pathways to foreigners undermines the moral fabric of society. This intervention is not merely theological but practical, as the Church frequently manages the frontline shelters and legal aid clinics that support undocumented arrivals.
Challenging the Narrative of National Preference
The Spanish Church’s opposition to the “priority of the native” is rooted in the belief that human dignity is inherent and non-negotiable. Church leaders have argued that when a society begins to prioritize one group over another based on citizenship, it risks dehumanizing those who are most vulnerable. This critique is directed not only at specific legislation but at a broader cultural shift toward nativism.
According to the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), the integration of migrants is not a burden to be managed but a humanitarian obligation. The Church emphasizes that migrants often fill essential gaps in the Spanish economy—particularly in agriculture and elderly care—yet they remain the most precarious segment of the workforce. By opposing the “locals first” mentality, the Church argues that the state should ensure that basic healthcare, housing and legal protections are accessible to all residents to prevent the creation of a permanent underclass.
This position often places the Church in direct conflict with right-wing political movements. The discourse surrounding migration in Spain has increasingly shifted toward “security” and “border control,” often framing the arrival of foreigners as a threat to the stability and resources of the Spanish people. The Church, conversely, frames migration as a “sign of the times” that calls for greater solidarity and a reconfiguration of how the state views the “stranger.”
Cardinal Mazuelos and the Depoliticization of Migration
A prominent voice in this movement is Cardinal Antonio María Mazuelos, who has consistently called for the “depoliticization” of the migration crisis. Mazuelos has warned that treating migrants as political tools or “numbers” in an electoral strategy strips them of their humanity and obscures the real causes of migration, such as war, persecution, and extreme poverty.
Cardinal Mazuelos has urged political leaders to move beyond the “political football” of immigration, suggesting that the current approach—often oscillating between restrictive measures and temporary concessions—fails to address the systemic needs of both the migrants and the host communities. His call to “not politicize” immigration is an invitation to view the issue through a humanitarian lens rather than a partisan one, emphasizing that the arrival of foreigners is a global phenomenon that requires a coordinated, compassionate response rather than isolated nationalist policies.
The Cardinal’s approach aligns with the broader directives of the Vatican, which has repeatedly called for “welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating” migrants. By shifting the focus from “who comes first” to “how we protect everyone,” the Spanish Church seeks to move the public conversation away from competition for resources and toward a model of shared humanity.
The Case for Massive Regularization
One of the most concrete applications of the Church’s opposition to national priority is its strong support for the “regularization” of undocumented migrants. Regularization is the process by which the state grants legal residency and work permits to foreigners who have been living and working in the country without official papers.
The Church supports “massive regularization” not as a reward for illegal entry, but as a necessary step to end the exploitation of workers. Undocumented migrants are frequently subject to “precarious employment,” where they are paid below the minimum wage and denied access to social security or workplace safety protections. By granting legal status, the Church argues that the state can actually better regulate the labor market and ensure that all workers—both Spanish and foreign—are operating under the same legal standards, thereby preventing a “race to the bottom” in wages.
the push for regularization is tied to public health. The Church has pointed out that when migrants are kept in a state of legal invisibility, they are less likely to seek preventative healthcare, which can lead to larger public health crises. Ensuring that foreigners have the same basic access to the health system as citizens is presented not as a “privilege” for the foreigner, but as a safeguard for the entire community.
Stakeholders and the Human Impact
The impact of this ideological clash is felt most acutely by the migrants themselves and the volunteers who support them. For the thousands of migrants arriving via the Canary Islands or the Mediterranean routes, the distinction between “native priority” and “universal dignity” is a matter of survival.
- Migrant Workers: For those in the agricultural sector, particularly in regions like Almería, regularization means the difference between living in shacks without running water and having access to dignified housing.
- Local Municipalities: Many local councils in Spain find themselves caught between national restrictive mandates and the reality of providing basic services to a diverse resident population.
- Humanitarian Organizations: Groups like Caritas Spain work in tandem with the Church to provide the “safety net” that the state often fails to provide to non-citizens.
The Church’s insistence on equality in dignity serves as a moral check on the state. When the government implements measures that restrict access to services for non-nationals, the Church often acts as the primary advocate, utilizing its institutional weight to lobby for the inclusion of foreigners in social welfare programs.
Broader Implications for the European Union
The situation in Spain is a microcosm of a larger struggle across the European Union. From Italy to Poland, the tension between “national preference” and the rights of the “other” is defining the modern political landscape. The Spanish Church’s stance is a direct challenge to the “Fortress Europe” mentality, which prioritizes border security and the protection of native populations over the humanitarian needs of asylum seekers and economic migrants.
By arguing against the priority of the native, the Spanish Church is advocating for a European identity based on shared values of human rights rather than ethnic or national homogeneity. This approach seeks to reconcile the needs of the Spanish state with the demands of global justice, suggesting that a nation is strongest not when it excludes the stranger, but when it integrates them into a fair and transparent legal system.
As Spain continues to navigate its role as a primary entry point into Europe, the Church’s role as a “moral conscience” remains critical. The insistence that a migrant’s right to exist in dignity is equal to a citizen’s right to prosperity is a provocative stance in an era of rising nationalism, but one that the Church views as non-negotiable.
The next significant checkpoint for this issue will be the upcoming reviews of the Spanish Foreigners Law (Ley de Extranjería), where the Church and various humanitarian NGOs are expected to lobby for expanded regularization pathways and the removal of barriers to basic social services for non-citizens.
Do you believe that basic social services should be tied to citizenship, or should they be a universal right for all residents? Share your thoughts in the comments below and share this article to join the conversation.