The bishop of the northern city of
Padua on Thursday blasted anti-immigrant rhetoric and reminded
the faithful that Saint Anthony of Padua was also a "foreigner",
who landed in Sicily from Africa after a shipwreck much like the
asylum seekers of today.
"Being poor is not a sin," Monsignor Antonio Mattiazzo
said.
"But it is a sin to be indifferent and selfish".
"Authorities should look upon all citizens with
understanding, particularly the weakest and the neediest," the
bishop went on.
"Concerns about security should not exclude the virtue and
the duty of...solidarity".
"We remind you that Saint Anthony himself arrived in Italy
as a 'foreigner', sailing from Africa and landing in Sicily
after a shipwreck".
The bishop's diocese lies in the Veneto region, whose
Governor Luca Zaia - who is from the anti-immigrant, anti-euro
Northern League party - has mounted stiff opposition to the
relocation of Eritrean and Syrian refugees recently rescued off
the Mediterranean to his wealthy northern region.
Fellow Northern League Governor Roberto Maroni, who rules
nearby Lombardy, this week threatened to cut off funding for
municipalities that take refugees in.
The bishop went on to blast those who argue immigrants
bring crime and prostitution.
"It is also strange that some would accuse foreigners of
drug dealing, while keeping silent about the fact that Italians
are the ones buying it, or taking advantage of foreign women,"
Monsignor Mattiazzo said.
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