Coronavirus Emergency, Churches Are Open: a Scandal, Despite the Law

«It just seems that the only independent and sovereign thing in this land is that state inside the state which is the Church. Which doesn’t hesitate to   contravene the health provisions that apply to mere mortals. And, even worse, in fact instigates the commission of crimes and behaviors against the public health, and especialy against the safety of the most fragile persons. Our President of the Republic has been clear: “Italy is going through a difficult situation” and “in the common interest” he doesnt expect “action which can make it worse”. Then why Mr. Mattarella doesn’t address the same warning to the Holy See?».

These are the words of Roberto Grendene, the Secretary of the Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics (Unione degli Atei e degli Agnostici Razionalisti – Uaar), regarding the decision of the Rome vicary cardinal Angelo de Donatis, who yesterday revoked the church decree closing all the parishes in the capital.

«We can’t understand, by the way, what’s the part of the government’s lockdown decree allowing an exception for the parishes», goes on Grendene: «Article n. 3 says that “activities related to personal services (including hairdressers, barbers,  beauticians) are suspended except for those listed in attachment 2″, and churches aren’t listed there. Moreover I’d like to know how the self-cetification anhybody caught outside their must show actually works for those declaring they’re going to their parish: I doubt this can be justified as a “proven job requirement” a “necessity circumstance”, “health reasons” or “going back to their domicile”».

«To sum up, the Concordat and its nonchalant application are a danger for Italians’ health. Special consideration and privileged freedom margins given to the Church amount to a violation of the separation of church and State. We ask the Government to immediately force churches to close and to uniterally terminate the Concordat, finally makning art. 3 of our Constitution real. We’re all different, but we must be guaranteed exactly the same rights. And, obviosly, the same dutys.».