By Claire Marshall BBC Madrid correspondent

A Spanish priest who has spoken out against the Basque militant group ETA has employed a bodyguard after receiving death threats.

Jaime Larrinaga, who lives and works in the Basque region, is president of a prominent body of clerics which is openly against the nationalist movement.

Father Larrinaga is among 1,000 people under protection

Traditionally, the Basque church has supported calls for independence.

Tension across the Basque country is growing after the suspension of the nationalist party Batasuna, which is alleged to have links to the armed group.

In the peaceful village where Father Larrinaga is based, the tension is hard to notice at first glance.

But while he prepares to celebrate Mass inside his church, his burly armed bodyguard keeps watch outside.

There really is terror at the thought of revealing one's real thoughts - even amongst those in the Church

Father Jaime Larrinaga

The death threats came after he supported the decision to suspend Batasuna.

He is among more than 1,000 politicians, journalists and academics in the area are also forced to have protection, under the very real danger of being assassinated by ETA.

Father Larrinaga works in a fervently nationalistic area of the Basque country.

He says that in such a closed society, it is very difficult for anyone to speak out against ETA.

"You can't forget that there is a huge fear - there really is terror at the thought of revealing one's real thoughts - even amongst those in the church," he says.

"Many priests call me in secret, saying that we are with you - we share the same views. But when I call on them to say this in public, to show their opinions, there are few volunteers."

Growing anger

Many demonstrations have been held in opposition to the suspension of Batasuna.

Batasuna supporters are furious at the ban

There is growing anger at what the Basque people see as Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's attempts to crush Basque nationalism.

In disagreeing with that public mood, Father Larrinaga has made lots of enemies. Many in his village are turning against him.

"I greet them and they lower their faces," he says.

"Others say 'hello' out of courtesy. There are some who don't look at me. Others have stopped coming to mass on Sundays. This gives me much pain as their pastor."

Church split

The conflict has also created a divide within the church itself.

I don't think that whether you support ETA or not is an ethical question

Father Txabi Ikobaltzeta

Just down the road in a neighbouring village, another priest has the opposite view.

Txabi Ikobaltzeta is firmly opposed to the action being taken by the Spanish Government.

"It doesn't have any rationality or logic what they're doing. It's just an uncontrolled explosion of judicial and executive power," he says.

Father Ikobaltzeta refuses to condemn ETA

"To me, it seems completely undemocratic."

Father Ikobaltzeta does not condone ETA's brutal tactics, but he refuses to condemn it as a group.

"I don't think that whether you support ETA or not is an ethical question," he says.

"It seems that the debate about armed struggle is always put in these sort of terms. But I think that ETA is an expression of an unresolved conflict."

Searching for peace

But despite the divisions in the Basque Church, it has a vital role in the region, according to some of the worshippers attending mass.

The terrorism of ETA is a terrible thing. We have started to prosper as a region, but this could take us back to the era of Franco

Parishioner

"The Basque church does good work because it's searching for the peace of the Basque country," said one of them.

However, it is clear that what the people here want most of all is peace.

"The terrorism of ETA is a terrible thing. We have started to prosper as a region, but this could take us back to the era of Franco," said another parishioner.

Meanwhile, Father Larrinaga's bodyguard checks the handgun hidden under his shirt, his eyes flickering from the church doors to the windows.

The priest believes he has paid a heavy price for speaking out.

"The ultimate thing the terrorists want to do is shoot people or set off bombs," says Father Larrinaga.

"Just because I want to say what I think, and I want to defend freedom, I don't think I, or anyone else, should be killed. But in this world, we live with this fear."