Spanish government approves pension recognition for retired evangelical pastors

The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved a Royal Decree allowing evangelical and Adventist pastors to count their years of ministry prior to 1999 toward Social Security pension benefits. This policy change addresses a long-standing issue for ministers who served during the Franco regime and the subsequent Democratic Transition without access to the national social security system. Government officials stated the measure aims to provide necessary financial protection for these individuals, acknowledging the historical lack of coverage for their work.

Carolina Bueno, executive secretary of the Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities in Spain (FEREDE), expressed cautious optimism regarding the announcement. While welcoming the government's action, she noted that the organization is awaiting the specific details of the decree to ensure it aligns with previous court rulings. FEREDE estimates that over 1,200 pastors served during the period in question, with nearly 700 having already passed away. The issue has been a subject of legal contention for years, including a 2012 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that found against Spain in a case involving a pastor denied pension rights.