Nativity scene where Jesus has 2 moms causes rightwing outrage
Author: Molly Sprayregen
A priest in Italy is standing by his decision to create a nativity scene in which Jesus has two moms. Father Vitaliano Della Sala told Reuters that he “wanted to show with this scene that families are no longer just the traditional ones.”
“We need to reflect on how we priests treat these children, the children of these couples, the children of these families, and above all, how we treat the families… We must make them feel at home.”
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The priest’s display at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Capocastello di Mercogliano depicts the baby Jesus in his manger between the Virgin Mary and another woman wearing rainbow robes. Father Della Sala said he believes his respect for LGBTQ+ families aligns with the attitude of Pope Francis, who recently approved the blessing of same-sex unions.
Della Sala has held his ground despite immense backlash against the display. One Italian religious group, Pro-Vita & Famiglia (Pro-Life and Family), called it “dangerous, as well as shameful and blasphemous.” The group also launched a petition asking the bishop of Avellino (the province where the church resides) to do something about it.
Senator Maurizio Gasparri also said the scene “offends all those who always had respect and devotion for the Holy Family.”
Father Della Sala’s move comes at a particularly hostile time for LGBTQ+ people in Italy. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, made anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric a cornerstone of her campaign for office. She opposes allowing same-sex couples to adopt as well as marriage quality, calling civil union “good enough” for LGBTQ+ couples.
While same-sex civil unions have been legal in the country since 2016, same-sex couples do not have the right to adopt, thanks in part to opposition from the Catholic Church. Surrogacy remains illegal in Italy, and there are restrictions that prevent the adoption of “stepchildren” by one parent. Medically assisted reproduction, like in vitro fertilization (IVF), is only available to heterosexual couples.
In conjunction with its crackdown on the rights of same-sex parents, the Italian government has begun retroactively stripping same-sex parents of their legal connection to their children. One lesbian couple recently spoke about their plans to flee the country to protect their family.
Actual Story on LGBTQ Nation
Author: Molly Sprayregen
