POLITICAL CORRECTNESS GONE AWRY IN MILAN

Here's a story that appeared just before Christmas.  It's out of Milan, Italy!  It's almost unbelievable, but sadly true.

An Italian Priest decided against setting up the typical Nativity scene in his town’s cemetery this year.  Father Sante Braggie was concerned that the display would offend Muslims, as well as atheists and people of other faiths.

Father Braggie serves as the chaplain of the Municipal Cemetery of Cremona and curate of the local parish in northern Italy. The Nativity was typically set up in the cemetery, and would have been visible from the part of the cemetery reserved for Muslim graves, he said.  “A crib positioned within sight of them could be seen as a lack of respect for followers of other faiths, hurt the sensibilities of Muslims, as well as Indians and even atheists,” Braggie said, according to a translation published in Express.  “In short, it would be a mess.”

Father Oreste Mori, former chaplain at the cemetery, said the move was unbelieveable.  “We cannot renounce our culture and traditions. That would be an unpardonable weakness,” he said. “I am, for the time being at least, in Italy, not Saudi Arabia,” Fr. Mori added.

Happily, town officials successfully reinstated the Nativity display. Cristina Cappellini said the Nativity was a symbol “of our culture, of our traditions, of our Christian identity.”

Italy has a Muslim population of approximately 1.6 million people. More than half of all Muslims live in the north of the country. According to a study from the interior ministry study, the largest group of Muslims - approximately 120,000 - live in Milan, a city approximately 60 miles north of Cremona.  Like the rest of Europe, Italy has experienced a sharp increase in Muslim and other refugees from the Middle East in the past two years.

Islam is not officially recognized in Italy.  

Whether Islam is an officially recognized religion by the state or whether any religion should have official recognition is not the point.  

The point is Father Sante Braggie lacks any sense of self-identity in his Priesthood or his Catholic Faith. 

He certainly lacks any sensitivity to the people of his town whose beloved dead rest in the cemetery, dead loved ones they commended to the Lord at the time of their burial, loved ones they entrust to God as members of the Christian faithful.  Giving expression to that faith and allowing its free expression is not an attack or insult against any other faith.

If Muslims are offended, they should understand they live in a country with an overwhelming Christian population and respect the traditions of that faith.  Or, they should leave and go elsewhere, preferably back to their native lands and customs.

Unabashedly, I have no patience or tolerance for such politically correct nonsense at this or any other time of year anywhere.  

Father Braggie needs to be officially reprimanded for his conduct and reminded that he is chaplain of the town cemetery where members of his pastoral family rest in the hope of the Resurrection promised by Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the World!