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Catholic World News News Feature

Retiring Italian bishop chides colleagues' failure to confront Islam January 16, 2007

An outspoken Italian prelate has used the last homily before his official retirement to complain that Church leaders have failed to “defend the Christian way of life.”

After 18 years at the head of the Como diocese, Bishop Alessandro Maggiolini is stepping down at the age of 76, to be replaced by Bishop Diego Coletti. At a farewell Mass the outgoing bishop said that Christians should be “known for upholding their faith, not for dialogue.” His comments were evidently aimed at proponents of immigration and inter-faith dialogue. The Como diocese is located in northern Italy, in a region noted for opposition to immigration.

Bishop Maggiolini has been known for his blunt speech on controversial issues, and especially for his skeptical view of immigration and relations with Islam. The AKI news service noted that in the past the bishop has said that approval of the pending Italian legislation recognizing same-sex unions would be “a prelude to marriage between men and horses,” and that “the doors of the nation cannot be opened” to unrestricted immigration.