The Spanish Catholic Church is investigating rumours of anti-semitic behaviour after as Israeli newspaper reported that the “blood libel” myth was still being spread.
The myth states that Jews use the blood of Christian children to perform religious rituals.
The Ha’aretz newspaper has reported that the myth is circulated every year in parishes in Toledo and Zaragoza, as well as churches elsewhere.
The libel states that the rituals are supported by both the church and the local authority, The Guardian reports.
Beginning in the 1400s, the aim of the myth was to justify the expulsion of Spain’s Jewish population.
The Spanish church is said to be revising some of the rituals that stem from the myths.
Each year, some worshippers in Toledo mark the anniversary of Santo Niño de La Guardia; a myth that suggests a Christian child was abducted by Jews in 1480, despite no child being registered as missing at the time.
In Zaragoza, the basilica has a chapel dedicated to a child supposedly tortured by local Jews, although the story is believed to be untrue.