Clearing up the doubts is to the status of non-Catholics in Italy following the consummation of the agreement between the Vatican and the Italian government by which the canon law was recognized, three bills defining religious liberty in Italy and constituting a new Magna Carta were introduced into the new Fascist parliament. These measures met with the approval of non-Catholic leaders in Italy.
According to one bill, cults other than the Catholic, whose status was recognized in 1848 as being tolerated, now become admitted cults. The clergymen of these cults may assume the offices to which they are appointed after they receive the approval of the Minister of Justice.
No differences of religion can affect or influence the civil or political rights or the special privileges of the citizens of the state. Parents are entitled to ask for the exemption of their children from classes in which religion is taught.
The second bill deals with marriage laws. Contrary to the fears entertained in certain quarters, the bill declares that not only marriages performed according to Catholic rites are recognized as civilly binding, but also marriages according to the Protestant and Jewish rites.
The annullment or dissolution of Jewish marriages will be governed by civil law, which means that divorces will be granted to Jews by the civil court.
The third bill deals with the regulation of church property.
The “Giornale d’Italia” publishes today three interviews with three non- (Continued on Page 4)
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