Freedom of religion and "homeland security"
 Pastor Domenico Maselli, President of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, denounced the amendments inserted in the Proposed legislation (Law 733), better known as the “security package”, currently being discussed in the Senate, as unconstitutional. Among these amendments, one in particular is striking which foresees the possibility of city-wide referendum before, mosques or other places of worship concerning religions that still do not have formal agreements with the State, can be built. “The Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy has had occasion to express its dissent on this whole proposal in the past - declared Maselli -. Of particular concern this time is an amendment that reflects a situation that has already been legalized in the Lombardia Region where it is no longer sufficient to simply inform the police in order to open a place of worship, but now the same building permit is to be given specifically stating that the building is for worship. This means that buildings cannot be transformed into places of worship. The approval of this amendment would further limit freedom of religion, just as another proposal that wants to make a difference between those who have a Concordat or a Formal Agreement (Intese) already existing and those who do not. It is our hope that the Senate will not accept these amendments and that the regional regulations also be abrogated”.
The Baptist, Methodist and Waldensian Churches also expressed their dissent against this proposed legislation stating that it does not respect fundamental human rights. Following is the joint declaration by Pastor Anna Maffei, President of the Union of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Italy, Pastor Massimo Aquilante, President of the Methodist Committee and Pastor Maria Bonafede, Moderator of the Tavola Valdese:
The “Security Package” contains some measures still being examined by the Italian Parliament on immigration that as Baptist, Methodist and Waldensian Protestant Christians hold to be harmful to fundamental human and civil rights. We therefore ask the Government and Parliament not to derogate from the following principles:
 1. Immigrants enjoy the rights affirmed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, even those who have entered Italy without a regular permit. Among these are the right to medical care. We therefore strongly reject any attempt to limit the access of immigrants to health care forcing the health officials to report the presence of irregular immigrants in the hospitals. Such an attempt, in the eventuality that it be approved by our Parliament, would create a health situation with very serious consequences, such as, for example, those without health care resorting to illegal abortions or the worsening and spreading of diseases, some of which could be infective, with great risk both to the immigrants as to the general population.
2. Immigrants have the right, as do all, to family togetherness. The many measures being examined by Parliament, even if there is a lot of talk about family, tend in fact to separate the family even more in the case of immigrants in that they make the possibility of families coming together even more difficult. The proposals presented by some senators of the majority are designed to limit and almost impede the process of integration of immigrants in our country. We oppose this logic of wall building and of creating privileges that make our country and our people closed within themselves and inhospitable.
3. The legislation in discussion does not take into consideration the situation of injustice and of the unequal distribution of resources that exists in our world today and tends to see the immigrant without a permit to stay as a criminal. As Christians we hold that any law concerning this matter must be inspired by the criterion of justice and, therefore, must take into account specific, concrete, motives that move people to migrate.
Italy has not followed through with respect to the commitments taken in the Millenium Declaration that established the objectives for defeating poverty within the year 2015. For these principles we feel we must commit ourselves together with all those who, with or without religious motives, seek the full integration of all and of each and every one. The word ‘security’ acquires its true meaning when it contributes to winning over fear and enmity, and not foster it”.
Franca Di Lecce, Director of the Refugee and Migrant Service of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, also stated that the proposed amendments were very restrictive and against fundamental human rights. “The intent of the proposed legislation tends toward persecution, it's intimidating and leads to social unrest because it blocks the way to the integration of immigrants making their presence a threat and prone to blackmail. As Protestant churches we are disconcerted by a State that persecutes and menaces instead of guaranteeing all citizens, in particular to the weakest part, the security of a dignified and responsible life, and we will continue to work toward denouncing any unacceptable measure, because they undermine and empty our democracy of meaning”, she concluded.
From press service NEV - Notizie evangeliche, 30 November 2008 |
