Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella (C) walks past an Italian soldiers as he visits with mayor of Amatrice Sergio Pirozzi (L) the damaged central Italian village of Amatrice on August 26, 2016, three days after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the region killing some 281 people.
Italy prepared for an emotional day of mourning on August 27, 2016 with flags across the country to fly at half mast in honour of the 281 victims of a devastating earthquake. Grieving families began burying their dead on August 26 as rescue workers combing the rubble said they had found no new survivors in the remote mountain villages in central Italy blitzed by August 24’s powerful pre-dawn quake.
/ AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO
Fr. Giovanni Cavalcoli, a theologian known for his hardline views, made the comments on October 30, the day central Italy was struck by a 6.6-magnitude quake – the most powerful to hit the country in 36 years – according to Italian media.
It was the third major quake in the same region in just over two months.
Cavalcoli said on Radio Maria that the seismic shocks were “divine punishment” for “the offence to the family and the dignity of marriage, in particular through civil unions.”
The radio station distanced itself from his views and late Friday the Vatican issued a stinging rebuke, saying the idea of a vengeful God was “a pagan vision” dating from “the pre-Christian era.”
Archbishop Angelo Becciu, number two in the Vatican’s powerful Secretariat of State, said Cavalcoli’s comments were “offensive to believers and disgraceful for nonbelievers,” in remarks reported by Italian media.
Becciu asked for forgiveness from quake victims and reminded them they had the “solidarity and support” of Pope Francis.
But Cavalcoli has refused to back down, insisting to another radio station that earthquakes are indeed caused by “the sins of man” and telling the Vatican to “read their catechism.”
Legislation allowing gay civil unions in Italy only took effect last month, making it the last country in Western Europe to legally recognize same-sex relationships.
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