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Garelli, Franco
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3 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Franco Garelli on the lack of respect for Catholic morals
The scandals involving child abuse at Catholic institutions in several European countries are reflecting badly on the Catholic Church because they make it clear that it doesn't respect its own moral standards, writes sociologist Franco Garelli in the liberal daily La Stampa: "Despite the 'zero tolerance' of Benedict XVI towards paedophilia among the Catholic clergy and his denunciation of the unscrupulous careerism that has taken hold even in church circles, the wind is blowing against Rome with increasing force. ... And the Church has not been spared by the crisis that now has all institutions in its grip and is capable of destroying their old motto: 'extra ecclesiam nulla salus' [Outside the Church there is no salvation]. ... All in all the world has reacted civilly to the shocking reports, and it seems there aren't any parties or 'parallel churches' trying to capitalise on the deep crisis in which the Catholic Church finds itself. ... Why are the Vatican and the bishops defending a bastion of strict moral standards which is not respected even within their own sphere? Why is this religious institution not willing to revise some of the rules that make people unhappy and cause so much damage?"
» full article (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Global
Franco Garelli on the separation of Church and State
Last Saturday Pope Benedict XVI used the quote "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's" to underline the separation of secular and religious power. In the liberal daily La Stampa Franco Garelli comments: "The Church admits that Christianity is founded on the separation of State and Church, the autonomy of the secular and religious spheres. ... This conceals not only Christianity's refusal to pass judgement in secular society ..., but also the idea that the Church does not represent the entirety of society. Rather it is a distinguished and voluntary community whose main task is to announce and spread the Christian message. This is why we are called on to render to God the things that are God's. The faithful are required to follow the laws of the earth but look to heaven for guidance. Christians inhabit a place between the kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of Earth; they accept the laws of Caesar on the condition of recognising the primacy of God. ... But why should a free church in a free state such as ours demand the privileged attention of the political powers? Does this not pose the risk that, in contradiction of the principles that apply, a creeping tie between State and Church is created that could influence the latter in its mission?"
» full article (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Weltanschauung, » Italy
Historic visit of Rome's chief rabbi to mosque
Rome's chief rabbi paid a visit on Monday, March 13 to the Italian capital's main mosque, the largest in Western Europe. Editorial writer Franco Garelli views this historic visit as an auspicious sign for peace. "This gesture by Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, head of the oldest and most prestigious Jewish community in the Mediterranean, carries great significance. Behind the rabbi's words comparing Islamophobia to antisemitism, there is a vision of a common path to peace for Jews and Muslims in Rome and the world as a whole. ... With his visit to the mosque, Di Segni appears to cast himself as the interlocutor of choice for Italian Islam, at a historic moment when the Vatican is adopting a more circumspect attitude towards what is henceforth the number-two religion in Italy."
» more information (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » Society, » Italy
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