Spain Church Criticized Over Cordoba Monument Name

AP ^ | 12/15/14 | Ciaran Giles

[marshmallow]

MADRID (AP) -- A regional government in southern Spain has filed a complaint with Roman Catholic Church authorities over what it believes are church moves in recent years to blot out the Islamic past of Cordoba's ancient mosque-cathedral, one of the country's leading tourist attractions.

The Andalusia region's tourism department said Monday the practice by church authorities who own the complex of calling it simply "The Cordoba Cathedral" on its website and on pamphlets and tickets could hurt tourism and confuse the 1 million-plus tourists who annually visit the "mezquita" (mosque), as it is known popularly.

Tourism chief Rafael Rodriguez said one might think the church was looking to blot out the mezquita's Islamic past, which he described as representing a meeting of cultures and civilizations. The department has asked for a meeting with the church.

Cathedral officials deny the allegations and insist the monument's official title has been "The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Cordoba" since the 13th century - when the mosque built after the Moorish invasion of Spain in the 8th century was transformed into a cathedral after King Ferdinand III captured the city from the Moors.

The mosque itself had been built over a Christian Visigothic temple.

Cathedral spokesman Jose Juan Gimenez Gueto described the dispute as "an artificial controversy," pointing out that visitor numbers increase yearly. He said the church was proud of the monument's past and doesn't try to conceal it.

[dfwgator]

Is it made of rich Corinthian Leather?

[OpusatFR]

I want Constantinople back.

[x_plus_one]

church moves in recent years to blot out the Islamic past of Cordoba's ancient mosque-cathedral There is no room for both unless you are the new world order.

[Boogieman]

Realize that when the Muslims visit Cordoba, they do so with the hope of retaking it someday. For them “Cordoba” is a code word for the imperative of Muslims to conquer Europe. As long as any bit of a land was once occupied by Muslims, they see it as their birthright to take it back.

[Verginius Rufus]

Ferdinand III is the San Fernando Rey for whom one of the California missions was named (from which the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles takes it name).