Posted on 07/26/2018 9:55:44 AM PDT by ebb tide
ROME - A close adviser to Pope Francis criticized legislation proposed by Italy’s anti-migrant League party to require ports and other public institutions to display a crucifix, saying Wednesday that the religious symbol isn’t “a team emblem” to be shown for political ends.
“If you remove the (religious) symbolism from the crucifix … it becomes a parody,” Father Antonio Spadaro, editor of the Jesuit magazine Civilta Cattolica, said during a Rome conference on the pope.
A tweet Spardaro posted earlier in the day with a blunt “Hands off!” went viral. The crucifix, he wrote, “screams love to the enemy and unconditional welcome.”
It was an apparent critique of the hard line Italy’s current populist government has taken on immigration. The interior minister in the coalition government leads the right-wing League and has kept migrant rescue ships from docking in Italy.
The pending bill would require a crucifix to be displayed in all public spaces and institutions, including ports and universities. As now written, it allows violators to be fined up to $1,170.
Although some Italian decrees technically require displaying the cross in public schools, not all schools abide by them. The issue has come before the European Court of Justice, which ruled in 2011 in favor of Italy’s display policy.
The crucifix debate marked the latest dust-up over migration that has riled up the Catholic Church in Italy.
Weekly magazine Famiglia Cristiana published an issue Wednesday with a photo of Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on the cover and the warning “Retreat, Salvini” in Latin.
Italy’s Catholic leaders have largely taken to heart Francis’s appeal for governments to accept as many migrants as possible. The magazine cover as well as Spadaro’s comment reflected their growing unease with the government’s position.
Salvini said the magazine cover was in bad taste.
“I’m the last among good Christians, but I don’t think I deserve this,” the ANSA news agency quoted him as saying.
Italy isn’t alone in dealing with the crucifix issue, which has flared anew as large numbers of refugees and migrants from countries that are not predominantly Christian seek asylum in Europe.
A similar debate broke out in May, when the German state of Bavaria passed a law ordering the display of the cross at the entrance of state buildings.
Munich Cardinal Reinhard Marx, head of the German bishops’ conference, voiced opposition to the law, saying that considering the cross to be a cultural symbol reflected a misunderstanding of its meaning.
Truly disoriented times when powerful people within the Church OPPOSE the crucifix.
The only people who have problems with crucifixes are anti-Catholics.
I rest my case.
I’m not Catholic, but I would support this legislation just to make Libtard and Islamofascist heads explode. Which of these two groups do you suppose Pope Frank belongs to?
Sane Christians to the Bishop of Rome: “Sod off.”
Always far right, or anti immigrant when it is further form the truth. How about pro Italy, and Italians, how about anti illegal immigration, how about far left, or alt left?
I should have had my kids go into journalism and infiltrate the media
Yes, it a “team emblem,”
An emblem of Italy and its culture. Don’t want to be part of “the team,” also known as “the country?” Then turn around and go back.
Disgusts me that this man is Pope!
Pope Francis is like a Hammer Studios villain - hold up a cross in front of him and he probably disintegrates into hamburger meat.
And you cannot remove the symbolism from rhe publicly display of the cross. The opposition will make damned sure of that.
They aren't removing the religious symbolism at all, they are advocating deploying it purposely and proudly. This guys problem is that he's uncomfortable with what that symbol means. This is what the Church is under Pope Francis: Clergy that won't defend the crucifix, Bishops hostile to the Eucharist, and a Pope that enables it all.
Too bad the church hierarchy opposes the crucifix but favors gay sex.
The classic signs. One would be the rolling of the eyes, and that’s usually because of an aversion to the sacred. So if someone was to walk into a church or even the parish center—this has happened a number of times—walk into the parish center and they cannot stand to look at the crucifix. . .: Interview with an Exorcist
It’s a damned shame that the Vatican opposes the public display of Our Lord and Savior.
Italy would be bar better off joining with other countries in occupying and administering a portion of Libya as a homeland for the refugees. If run by the Italians it will likely be the only civilized area of Africa.
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