Italy
Campaign seeks to block mosque construction near Pisa’s tower
By Josephine McKenna — August 23, 2016
(RNS) Italian Muslims decry a challenge to their religious freedom.
How we honor Muslims who stand up to terror
By guest — July 21, 2016
WASHINGTON (RNS) Stories of Muslims facing down hate and terror, especially perpetrated by violent Islamists who claim to speak in their name, are both important to tell and more common than we realize.
Catholic school in Italy fined for firing gay teacher
By David Gibson — June 23, 2016
ROME (RNS) A nun quizzed the employee about her sexual orientation, and the woman was later fired. A court said that was discrimination and fined the Catholic school almost $30,000.
Italian newspaper draws criticism with ‘Mein Kampf’ giveaway
By RNS staff — June 11, 2016
MILAN — Il Giornale, a center-right daily owned by the family of former premier Silvio Berlusconi, said the decision to distribute the edition aimed "to study what is evil to avoid its return."
Italy OKs gay civil unions despite strong church opposition
By RNS staff — May 12, 2016
And still no one is happy. Conservatives say they'll push to cancel the law. Supports say, "This is just the beginning."
Catholic leaders win some, lose some in Italy’s new gay unions measure
By Rosie Scammell — February 26, 2016
ROME (RNS) The mixed result disappointed gay rights activists, and some conservative Catholics bemoaned an “anthropological revolution."
Milan measure restricting the construction of mosques thrown out
By Rosie Scammell — February 25, 2016
ROME (RNS) Italy’s constitutional court on Wednesday (Feb. 24) overturned the rule imposed in the Lombardy region, after the central government intervened saying the measure violated civil rights.
Italy faces fine over CIA abduction of Egyptian cleric
By Rosie Scammell — February 24, 2016
ROME (RNS) Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr had been given political asylum and was living in Milan when he was snatched from a street in February 2003.
Italian senators debate same-sex union bill under Vatican’s watchful eye
By Rosie Scammell — February 2, 2016
ROME (RNS) Discussion of the bill has underscored the Vatican’s declining influence in Italian politics.
Covering nude statues in Rome for Iran head draws Catholic leader’s scorn
By Rosie Scammell — January 28, 2016
ROME (RNS) “This is our culture. If you don’t want to see it, close your eyes!” Syrian Patriarch Youssef III Younan said as controversy continued over Italy's move to shield nudes from the view of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
Pope Francis’ 2 new Italian archbishops ‘attentive to poor’
By Rosie Scammell — October 27, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Both appointments are seen as strategic for the pontiff’s push to create a “poor church.”
Pope Francis’ unused summer palace adds a museum
By Reuters — September 12, 2015
The Vatican has turned part of lavish Castelgondolfo - which the frugal Pope Francis has avoided - into a museum and linked it to Rome via a train.
Italians help flood of refugees in Pope Francis’ vision of ‘a church for the poor’
By Rosie Scammell — May 14, 2015
CATANIA, Italy (RNS) Stretched to the limits by the scores of refugees who arrive daily, Italian Catholics are trying to embody Pope Francis' call to build "a church for the poor."
Deal imports American bottom-line accounting to Italy’s Catholic churches
By Rosie Scammell — May 5, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The new program brings a measure of American financial savvy to Italy's notoriously murky church finances, dovetailing with Pope Francis' push for reform and transparency.
Elton John slams Dolce & Gabbana over ‘synthetic baby’ comments
By Reuters — March 16, 2015
ROME (Reuters) "How dare you refer to my beautiful children as 'synthetic.' And shame on you for wagging your judgmental little fingers at IVF ... I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again."
