RTVE Issues Apology After Describing Evangelicals as “Dangerous”
Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE issued a formal apology after a television segment described the growth of Evangelical churches in the country as “dangerous,” attracting significant criticism. The broadcaster acknowledged errors in its coverage and sought to address complaints from religious organisations and viewers.
On 22 September 2025, an afternoon broadcast of the programme Directo al Grano aired a report that singled out Evangelical churches, used footage of congregations without consent, and cited a pastor not representative of the wider community. The segment characterised the growth of these churches as “worrying” and implied they posed a threat. The portrayal sparked widespread objections, notably from the Federation of Religious and Evangelical Entities of Spain (FEREDE), which lodged a formal complaint with RTVE management.
RTVE’s audience ombudswoman, Beatriz Ariño, responded to the complaints with a letter of apology, acknowledging that the broadcaster had erred and affirming its commitment to handling religious matters with care. The programme’s producers withdrew the segment after recognising that it had incorrectly referred to “the Evangelical Church” instead of more specific subjects. In a subsequent broadcast, presenter Marta Flich issued an on-air correction and apology.
Sources: christianpost.com, actualidadevangelica.es
Image: Screenshot YouTube, RTVE Play