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I observed that some of the Italians I know in Italy are more aggressively secular than people are here in Australia. If they identified as a non-believer they avoid, as much as possible, going to a church and seem to have a real contempt for the church and priests. Here in Australia many people who are agnostic and atheist are happy to accompany their family members to church, even get married in churches and many send their kids to religious schools.
I find it very strange that people who claim to be atheist would have a wedding in a church, or even send their kids to catholic schools...
I think the opposition is probably stronger in Italy because the church has more influence on society and on politics. For instance in the next few days in Verona there is going to be the international meeting of the so-called traditional family, which is firmly against LGBT rights and not too keen on abortion. This is all paid by public money of course. So I understand that there is a strong opposition in this country.
I know Italy is a mostly Catholic country but once I was in a mass in an Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn, and I saw the Italians showed a lot of respect towards the priest.
Do people in Italy, even secular people that don't go to church, or are atheists, still a hold a high reverence for priests?
I wonder if they are more respected in Italy than in the United States.
The next generation will produce the answer to your question.
It all comes down to what the parents have instilled in their children.
I find it very strange that people who claim to be atheist would have a wedding in a church, or even send their kids to catholic schools...
I think the opposition is probably stronger in Italy because the church has more influence on society and on politics. For instance in the next few days in Verona there is going to be the international meeting of the so-called traditional family, which is firmly against LGBT rights and not too keen on abortion. This is all paid by public money of course. So I understand that there is a strong opposition in this country.
There is nothing immoral about opposition to abortion.
There is nothing immoral about opposition to abortion.
I'm not talking about morality, I just make a link between the church being not always very progressive and some politicians trying to restrict womens' rights.
It is getting quite difficult to have an abortion in parts of Italy lately. I'm not saying the church is the cause, but seeing priests next to politicians might indicate something is happening in some circles of the political sphere.
I'm not talking about morality, I just make a link between the church being not always very progressive and some politicians trying to restrict womens' rights.
It is getting quite difficult to have an abortion in parts of Italy lately. I'm not saying the church is the cause, but seeing priests next to politicians might indicate something is happening in some circles of the political sphere.
Understood.
When it comes to abortion, there are many links.
Unfortunately many have a tendency to bring up church and abortion in the same sentence.
Kind of paints a black eye on the church under the disguise of a immoral/moral conscience.
yeah, it's not entirely clear either to understand what's going on behind the scenes.
I don't think morality should be an issue either, I prefer to think about people's rights in a free and democratic society, and sometimes the concept of morality is wrongly used to restrict them.
I have nothing against religion in general, I am just uneasy with the fact that some Italian politicians would use it as an excuse to denigrate parts of our society.
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