Church and State relations

In occasion of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Italian Constitution a round table discussion was organized at the House of Representatives in Rome on the theme of human rights. The meeting was sponsored by the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI), by the Union of Seventh Day Adventist Churches in Italy (UICCA) and by the Italian Evangelical Alliance (AEI), and moderated by Pastor Domenico Maselli, President of the FCEI. Among the participants were Valdo Spini, Lucio Malan, Stefano Ceccanti and Roberto Mazzeschi. The discussion was animated by a pantomime artist, Carlo Martinez from Spain who presented a show dedicated to human rights: “The best way to express a universal theme is to use a universal language, that of the pantomime. I wanted to face this challenge trying to make the text of the Declaration come alive through movements and expressions, substituting words with muscular movements” explained Martinez.

Concern was expressed during the discussions about alarming signs in Italy for the safeguard of fundamental rights, where the victims are often the weakest and most vulnerable part of society. Senator Malan stated that “if religious freedom is not given to everyone, it isn't given to anyone”. Italy has a growing religious pluralism, due especially to immigration, and “the religious factor is an important instrument for socialization and integration. For this very reason it is necessary to have a legislative framework to safeguard the rights of every citizen to profess his own faith”. Senator Ceccanti presented an interesting though on truth: “To create real freedom of religion it is essential that we go from the concept of truth as a possession to that of truth as a responsibility. Only on the grounds of this second hypothesis will it be possible to create an authentic freedom of religion based on reciprocal respect”.

In another sector of church/state relations, the Council of Ministries approved the changes in the Formal Agreements with the Waldensian and Methodist Church and with the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Italy. Pastor Maria Bonafede, Moderator of the Tavola Valdese, executive board of the Waldensian and Methodist churches in Italy, expressed her satisfaction along with Dora Bognandi, Director of the Department for Freedom of Religion of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The amendments added to these Formal Agreements (Intese) concerned, for the Waldensian and Methodist churches, the possibility to participate in the quotas on tax rebates of those tax payers who do not indicate a choice of recipient on their tax returns in the system called “8/1000”, while the Union of Seventh Day Adventist Churches in Italy added to their Agreement the recognition of the diploma given by the Adventist Institute of Biblical Culture of Florence.

“We welcome this approval and hope that in a short time the Government will see to the ratification of other “Intese” already negotiated and signed relating to faith communities having important roles within the Italian society – stated Maria Bonafede -. We renew our commitment to administer all the funds of ‘8/1000’ along the same guidelines we have always followed, without a cent being used for purposes of worship”. “The approval of the amendments is without a doubt good news – affirmed Dora Bognandi -, It means that the difficulties of the past years are being overcome”.

Those Agreements still pending to move toward the complete application foreseen in Article 8 of the Italian Constitution refer to the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Buddhist Union in Italy, the Apostolic Church in Italy, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Sacred Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy and the Hindu Union in Italy.

From press service NEV - Notizie evangeliche, 31 October 2008