"Italy Plans Model Law on
Religious
Freedom"
Initiative of GRIS and Pontifical
Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum
("Zenit.org," May 15,
2003)
Fostering
coexistence
between different cultures and religions "is the only possible future
for
the world," Bishop Vincenzo Paglia Terni-Narni-Amelia posited as the
objective for Italy's upcoming law on religious freedom.
Bishop Paglia, member of the Episcopal Commission for Ecumenism and
Dialogue of
the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), addressed the on-going debate over
the
Italian Parliament's plan for a model law on religious freedom at a round
table
discussion held May 13, on "The Law of Religious Freedom in
Italy."
Organized by Socio-Religious Research and Information Group (GRIS) and the
Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum of Rome, all representatives of
Italy's
constitutional parties participated in the event. The meeting analyzed the
State's point of view in the regulation of the fundamental right of
religious
freedom.
The importance of such legislation lies also in the fact that "it
might be
an example of an international character," the rector of the
Pontifical
Athenaeum, Father Paolo Scarafoni, L.C., emphasized at the opening of the
meeting.
"The law of religious freedom is one of the most significant and
important
because it is founded on the dignity of the person," the GRIS'
national
secretary, professor Giuseppe Ferrari, said.
Professor Ferrari recalled that "more than any one else, John Paul II
can
be considered the defender of human rights and, in particular, of
religious
freedom."
For his part, Bishop Paglia stressed a lawmaker's important obligation to
address the multiplicity of religions that history reflects as a
consolidated
and irreversible fact.
Though it is imperative that religions meet, "to dialogue does not
mean to
give up or dilute one's own creed. Only those who are firm in their
religious
identity can engage in a real dialogue."
Referring, specifically, to the law, Bishop Paglia continued: "the
most
arduous question refers to the Islamic religion... I think the Italian
State
has every right to request reciprocity in relations from Muslim
states,"
he said.
In this connection, the bishop added that "if the law is approved
during
the semester of Italy's European presidency, it would have even greater
authority, before the other countries, to ask for reciprocity."
The proposed law "reflects the wisdom of Italian Law, which does
not"
follow "the French interpretation and does not conceive the laicism
of the
Constitution as ostracism in regard to religions, but as the State's
imperative
commitment to uphold the religious dimension of all in the juridical and
civil
framework," the bishop concluded.
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