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Catholic World News News Feature

Italian cardinal sees danger in Islamic instruction March 20, 2006

Teaching Islam in Italian public schools could be dangerous, Cardinal Camillo Ruini has argued, unless it is accompanied by an energetic campaign to introduce students to the fundamental principles of Italian social policy.

Speaking in his capacity as president of the Italian bishops' conference, Cardinal Ruini took a stand different from that of Cardinal Renato Martino, who had argued last week that teaching Islam to Muslim students could be a welcome sign of respect for religious pluralism. Cardinal Martino, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, saw the teaching of Islam in Italy as a gesture of the "reciprocity" that Church leaders have sought, in which European countries show their respect for Islam and demand the same sort of respect for Christianity in Muslim societies.

In his speech, during a meeting of the administrative committee of the Italian bishops' conference, Cardinal Ruini observed that Cardinal Martino had been offering his own opinion, rather than an official stance of the Catholic Church. The Church, he explained, can speak officially with government leaders "about the teaching of the Catechism, and not about relations with other religions."

Nevertheless, Cardinal Ruini continued, the question of instruction in the Islamic faith raises some questions of prudent judgment. The Italian government, he observed, cannot support teaching something that is at odds with the government's own constitution, "for example on the question of civil rights, beginning with religious liberty, and also on the equality of men and women in marriage." It is far from clear, he implied, that the Islamic faith could support those principles.

Moreover, the cardinal continued, there is no single recognized Islamic authority which could work with the Italian government to establish an official policy for teaching Islam. By the same token there is no way to ensure that religious instruction for Muslim children would not include "dangerous social indoctrination."

Cardinal Ruini recalled that the Italian concordat with the Holy See recognizes the value of teaching the Catholic faith, since "the principles of Catholicism are part of the historic patrimony of the Italian people." During a lengthy presidential address., Cardinal Ruini offered his thanks to Pope Benedict XVI for having confirmed him in his role as president of the Italian bishops' conference. Cardinal Ruini has served in that capacity for 15 years, has reached the canonical retirement age of 75, and had even asked to be replaced in light of his history of cardiac trouble. But in January the Pontiff-- who appoints the president of the Italian bishops' conference-- announced that he was renewing Cardinal Ruini's mandate.

The Pope indicated that a change in leadership might have created undue confusion. Cardinal Ruini's term was due to expire on March 6-- just one month before national parliamentary elections. In view of the cardinal's very prominent role in Italian public affairs, the Pontiff chose to continue his term until well after those elections. Cardinal Ruini, in his March 20 address, thanked the Pope for that show of confidence.

Cardinal Ruini will remain president of the Italian bishops' conference until October, when the Italian bishops' conference gathers in Verona. Pope Benedict may participate in that session.