A nativity scene is an image that is usually present in most homes, establishments and, above all, churches. This Christmas in Italy, which is considered a common occurrence in most places, several Catholics and conservative politicians were outraged by a particular performance.
The parish priest of the church in Capocastello di Mercogliano, near Naples, replaced the figure of Joseph and Mary with two women in the nativity scene. “I wanted to show that families no longer have a traditional format,” Vitaliano Della Sala explained to Reuters.
The priest is known as a supporter of the LGBT movement and ideas associated with leftist parties. Vitaliano argues that this attitude is consistent with the decisions of the Pope, who this week approved the blessing of same-sex couples.
“In our parishes we are seeing more and more children from different types of families that exist and are part of society: divorced parents, gay couples, single parents, young mothers,” he said.
Maurizio Gasparri, a senator and member of the center-right Forza Italia coalition, said the nativity “offends all those who have always respected and shown devotion to the Holy Family.”
The group Pro-Vita & Famiglia (For Life and Family) launched a petition asking the local bishop to intervene and called the performance “dangerous, shameful and blasphemous.”
The petition has collected more than 21 thousand signatures.