Cardinal Tucci Warns Against "Dictatorship of Minorities"

Zenit News Organization ^ | November 2, 2003

[topher]

Cardinal Tucci Warns Against "Dictatorship of Minorities" In Wake of Judge's Decision to Bar Crucifix From School

ROME, NOV. 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The court-ordered removal of the crucifix from a school because it offended a Muslim is evidence of the West's misinterpretation of the rights of minorities and of the principle of laicism, says a cardinal.

A judge's decision to remove the crucifix from the Antonio Silveri nursery and elementary school in the village of Ofena, at the request of Adel Smith, president of the Union of Muslims of Italy, was made public Oct. 25.

Italian Minister of Justice Roberto Castelli has opened an administrative investigation against Judge Mario Montanaro, since Italian law allows the display of crucifixes in public places.

Analyzing the issue on Vatican Radio, Cardinal Roberto Tucci noted that "in present-day Western democracy a certain tendency is being verified of the dictatorship of minorities."

"Although everyone has the right to be respected, for example, in the area of religious freedom, it suffices that there be a minority that is unhappy about something … [so] that in the name of laicism the voice of many is silenced," he noted Thursday.

This results in the desire "to eliminate symbols that are important for the culture, in addition to the faith, of the majority of those who live in the country."

"It is thought that, in order to respect this minority, the majority must be offended, and I don't think this is democracy," he added.

For Cardinal Tucci, "it is not true that laicism excludes the fact that certain things can be recognized as being in keeping with the sentiments of the majority, which is not just a majority of believers, but a majority of people who recognize a certain type of culture which has constituted our country."

He said that there is so much insistence on individual rights that the rights of intermediary structures of the society, "which are very important," are forgotten.

"The family exists, as do communities of believers, structured in churches, in different confessions, which also have the right to be respected," as they "form part of the people who must be heard in a democracy," the cardinal said.

"That the state, even while respecting the right of religious freedom of all, gives special respect to that which belongs to the historical heritage of our civilization -- Western and Italian -- does not seem to me to be a violation of laicism," Cardinal Tucci stressed.

The cardinal also stressed that in Italy, Muslims have their rights respected, unlike Christians in predominantly Muslim countries.

"We must explain what we believe in, that we have a religious conception which is different from theirs in many aspects, and that we have the right to be respected, just as we respect their religious conceptions," Cardinal Tucci concluded. ZE03110210

[topher]

This is something I have been waiting to see in the American press, especially with things like removal of prayer from the schools, the "under God" controversy in the Pledge of Allegiance, and too many other cases where the rights of the "very few" override the rights of 80 to 90% of all Americans.

[stainlessbanner]

"in Italy, Muslims have their rights respected, unlike Christians in predominantly Muslim countries."

[joesnuffy]

No...in Italy Muslims have "more" rights than the Christians...they have the right to have Christians remove their symbols..which is an act of "domination"
that is only step #1
along the way of conquest...and this is about conquest...of muslims over western paganism, Christinanity and Judaism..

[vetvetdoug]

I want to see the leaders of Muslim countries invite Bush to their country for Christmas just like Bush did inviting the Muslims to the US for a celebration of Ramadan. Fat Chance from the Religion of Peace and Tolerance.

[big'ol_freeper]

Ping.

Interesting article.

[Clemenza]

Meanwhile, the Catholic Church here in the USA is a leading force for "open" immigration to fill its pews. Of course, its OK if the immigrants are from Mexico or even Africa, but they change their tune as far as Islamists are concerned. Witness Spain, where the Church pushed the government to encourage immigration from Latin America to counterbalance the growing Islamic populations in Madrid and Barcelona and to fill the pews that young Spaniards are vacating.

Flame away.

[Clemenza]

Be careful what you wish for: gunowners, smokers and even us conservatives are "minorities" who could be voted out of existence were it not for our great consitution. Cardinal Tucci should also be concerned that his flock will become a minority (if it isn't already) in an increasingly secular Italy.

[f.Christian]

Govt by the minority ... isn't that called fascism --- intelligentsia - cabal ?


Main Entry: in·tel·li·gent·sia
Pronunciation: in-"te-l&-'jen(t)-sE-&, -'gen(t)-
Function: noun
Etymology: Russian intelligentsiya, from Latin intelligentia intelligence
Date: 1907
: intellectuals who form an artistic, social, or political vanguard or elite

Main Entry: 1ca·bal
Pronunciation: k&-'bäl, -'bal
Function: noun
Etymology: French cabale cabala, intrigue, cabal, from Medieval Latin cabbala cabala, from Late Hebrew qabbAlAh, literally, received (lore)
Date: 1614
: the artifices and intrigues of a group of persons secretly united to bring about an overturn or usurpation especially in public affairs; also : a group engaged in such artifices and intrigues
synonym see PLOT

[Clemenza]

I was referring to Jerfferson's concept of the "Tyranny of the Majority," as rule by the masses can be equally tyrannical to that of the worst despot.

Lets keep our system of constitutional checks and balances.

[f.Christian]

Lets keep our system of constitutional checks and balances.

Like the media - intellinentsia ... conservatism --- rat's nest republicans !

Brave new worldists ... lies and rubber stamps --- monopolists !

There's a a rather small overly oppresive cabal of psuedo intellectual elitists ... bolsheviks - politburo --- who follow the hard left aclu line here on the FR --- freekers !

[f.Christian]

What is a problem is the ...

American atheo - nazi bolshevik reich liberal coup de tat ---

they have illegally established -- via --- EVOLUTION !


To: f.Christian

fC ...

Originally the word liberal meant social conservatives(no govt religion--none) who advocated growth and progress---mostly technological(knowledge being absolute/unchanging)based on law--reality... UNDER GOD---the nature of GOD/man/govt. does not change.

LC ...

Now I follow, thank you. Actually, I don't disagree with this at all since I see the left as abandoning the uncertianty of democracy and majority rule for the assurance technocracy and expert rule.

152 posted on 9/10/02 12:17 PM Pacific by Liberal Classic

fC ...

Right wing FR ARISTOCRACY - leftist psuedo intellectual nazis Elites ... experts - overlords !