Vatican City, May 3, 2007 / 10:40 am
Cardinal Julian Herranz, the former president of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts, denounced the “climate of intolerance and anti-ecclesial fanaticism” currently present in Italy. The cardinal’s comments came in response to recent death threats against Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco, over his statements against homosexual unions.
“They are trying to intimidate the Church because it is bothersome that she takes to the streets to defend her faith,” the cardinal said. “Some parties, complaining about Church interference, have spread hatred for the Church and are inciting extremists and this (death threat) is the result,” he said.
The Spanish cardinal said he was worried and concerned that some Italian politicians are not condemning the threats. “Whoever sows hatred arms the hand of ideological fundamentalism with more violence,” he said, noting that a “secular fundamentalism equally irrational and anti-democratic exists as well.”