It seems there is a subtle strategy trying to "slow down" the growth of the evangelical churches in Italy, making more and more difficult for them to find places for their meetings, closing down the facilities the are using, and putting them under the hand lens of the Italian bureaucracy. Even if this is happening only in a couple of regions in the north, it seems possible other Italian regions may apply the same rules over the evangelical communities living in their territory.
While I'm waiting in prayer the Italian Evangelical Churches of all the regions will wake up from their lethargy and stop thinking "this not going to happen in my region" or "we have friends at the City Council, they will not bother us", and rise their voices all together to defend those churches in need, I urge all of you to pray for the communities facing those tough moments.
Marco
Here is the official Press Release from the President of COEL ( Lombardy Region Evangelical Conference) asking for action from Milan City Council on October 8th 2012
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"Despite last Tuesday's meeting with Milan City Council, four church facilities were closed, with the cotnsequent eviction of 6 evangelical churches in Milan city, in accordance with a Regional law. COEL began discussions with the City Council, which responded by allowing some of the churches to hold their services in city facilities; COEL thanked the administration for this possibility.
COEL has also contacted several political representatives – Lombardy Region Councillors, national Parliament members and Senators, mainly non- evangelical – regarding this burning issue and continues to believe in and ask for loyal collaboration and solidarity from all those who are committed to religious freedom in our nation, besides all the Christian churches, irrespective of denomination or confession of faith.
With the closure of these facilities, the number of evangelical churches evicted from their places of worship has now risen to more than 20; some of these have disbanded, others have moved to other premises but all have suffered a blow to their vocation and function in the place where God, before man, had called them.
COEL also announced that it had been summoned again this week by the City Council, regarding the citizens' discussion on the establishment of a Register of religious associations, which is one of the main problems at the heart of the current situation.
Starting tomorrow the Vice-Mayor of Milan has specifically expressed his commitment to intervene together with COEL to help to find a solution to the problem of these churches evicted from their places of worship.
We again call upon all the public and private parties involved – as well as all the governing bodies and in particular Regional and national politicians – who have at heart religious freedom and plurality of faith which our (Italian) Constitution, art.3, lays out admirably, to work to find a positive solution to this problem.
To all christians, in particular, we ask that they pray to God for us."
Pastor Riccardo Tocco
COEL President
---COEL President
(Translated by Janet Duggan)
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