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.