[Clemenza]

The old saying is "in Italy, everyone follows the Church, one half with a candle, the other half with a club."

Southern Italy (where mine and Rudy's maternal ancestors hail from) is historically one of the most anti-clerical regions in all of Europe. The Irish and Germans were shocked when they saw the southern Italian immigrants whose menfolk didn't go to Church and whose womenfolk continued quasi-pagan practices.

There is a good reason why, in the old northern cities, that the Italian Church is usually smaller than the Irish, German, or Polish Churches.

[darkangel82]

I used to live in Cleveland, and the Italian Catholic churches were usually the biggest ones, although I don’t keep up anymore.

[Miss Didi]

Clem, I lived in Italy for years and you are quite wrong. Buona notte.