Religion
Italy: Concordat with Islam 'impossible' says MP
Rome, 26 October (AKI) - An Italian MP has rejected calls by Italy's foreign minister Franco Frattini for a possible Concordat or treaty with Islam to teach the religion in the country's public schools as a way of improving integration with Muslim immigrants.
"Minister Frattini should know that a Concordat with Islam is impossible, because of the lack of an 'Islamic Church', and the existence only of groups or associations.
"The issue about teaching of the Koran should be faced within a process of cultural exchange," said Italian MP Savino Pezzotta from the Union of the Centre coalition or UDC.
Pezzotta - who is also the president of the White Rose political party - was responding to calls by Frattini to establish a Concordat with Islam and the Italian state. The 1929 Concordat (also known as the Lateran treaty) established Catholicism as the religion of Italy, among other things.
"We need an agreement with the Islamic religion, similar to that which Italy has with the Vatican," said Frattini in an interview with Italian daily La Stampa published on Monday.
"Without it, we cannot distinguish between those who preach an orthodox and strict doctrine and those who favour a moderate Islam which is open to dialogue, interactive and which which favours integration and equal rights for all.
"Integration by immigrants requires solidarity and equity, without disregarding our identity and history. We need rules and principles to become good Italians, before becoming a good Muslim," said Frattini.
He said it was vital to ensure an 'Italian Islam' was established before bringing the Koran to the country's schools.
Last week, Italy's interior minister Roberto Maroni from the anti-immigrant Northern League party said he would not back a proposal to teach Islam in Italian schools to improve integration.
The proposal was put forward by the deputy minister of economic development, Adolfo Urso.
In September, the Vatican said that religion in Italian schools should have the status of a school subject. The Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education expressed the view in a letter sent to the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI).
The head of the CEI, Mons. Angelo Bagnasco quickly rejected the idea of an 'Islam hour' in schools.
The CEI also said that the teaching of different religions could generate religious relativism and did not support the proposal because it could cause "confusion" or "damage".
"Minister Frattini should know that a Concordat with Islam is impossible, because of the lack of an 'Islamic Church', and the existence only of groups or associations.
"The issue about teaching of the Koran should be faced within a process of cultural exchange," said Italian MP Savino Pezzotta from the Union of the Centre coalition or UDC.
Pezzotta - who is also the president of the White Rose political party - was responding to calls by Frattini to establish a Concordat with Islam and the Italian state. The 1929 Concordat (also known as the Lateran treaty) established Catholicism as the religion of Italy, among other things.
"We need an agreement with the Islamic religion, similar to that which Italy has with the Vatican," said Frattini in an interview with Italian daily La Stampa published on Monday.
"Without it, we cannot distinguish between those who preach an orthodox and strict doctrine and those who favour a moderate Islam which is open to dialogue, interactive and which which favours integration and equal rights for all.
"Integration by immigrants requires solidarity and equity, without disregarding our identity and history. We need rules and principles to become good Italians, before becoming a good Muslim," said Frattini.
He said it was vital to ensure an 'Italian Islam' was established before bringing the Koran to the country's schools.
Last week, Italy's interior minister Roberto Maroni from the anti-immigrant Northern League party said he would not back a proposal to teach Islam in Italian schools to improve integration.
The proposal was put forward by the deputy minister of economic development, Adolfo Urso.
In September, the Vatican said that religion in Italian schools should have the status of a school subject. The Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education expressed the view in a letter sent to the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI).
The head of the CEI, Mons. Angelo Bagnasco quickly rejected the idea of an 'Islam hour' in schools.
The CEI also said that the teaching of different religions could generate religious relativism and did not support the proposal because it could cause "confusion" or "damage".
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