Cardinal Bagnasco criticises the state of society in Italy

Cathcon translation of stol.it - Nachrichten - Kardinal Bagnasco kritisiert Zustand der Gesellschaft Italiens

With harsh criticism of the society of his country, the Chairman of the Italian Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, opened the spring meeting of the Episcopacy.

Italy is marked by fragmentation and inertia, said Bagnasco, according to Kathpress. The Genoa Archbishop warned against a "widespread and dangerous loss of trust".

Given the blocked economic upturn, fear of the future and fatalism are stalking the country, he noted in his keynote speech that the Italian newspaper "Avvenire" printed on Tuesday in full.

Bagnasco demanded the Abortion Act of 1978 should be adapted to current medical knowledge and opportunities and give priority to the protection of life, especially with regard to late abortion after the 22nd week of pregnancy.

He strongly opposes any legal recognition of non-marital family situations, as it would be "virtually withdraw the underlying rationale for the rights and privileges of married couples." Next, he spoke out against accelerated divorce proceedings, given the repercussions on the general understanding of marriage.

On the scandal surrounding the Pope's cancelled visit to the University of Rome "La Sapienza", he indirectly accused the government of failure. The decision of Pope Benedict XVI not to participate in the opening of the academic year was made "on the recommendation of the Italian authorities".

Bagnasco condemned the whole process as a "serious incident of intolerance". The Office of the Minister-President immediately rejected the accusation. The Government has never recommended cancelling the visit encouraged, they noted in a statement on Monday.