In reply to a question of the representative of the Jewish Daily Bulletin as to whether the political, religious and cultural rights of the Jewish population in Italy will be affected by the agreement concluded Monday between the Vatican and the Quirinal, one of the features of which is the undertaking to enforce in Italy the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, the Rev. Wilfred Parsons, S. J., editor of “America,” a Catholic weekly, stated that the status of the Jewish population in Italy will remain as it is under the Constitution.
Rev. Parsons explained that although the full text of the agreement is not yet available, it is known that the clauses dealing with the enforcement of the Canon Law in Italy pertain only to education, marriage and church properties. As to education, under the agreement, Catholic instruction in the Italian public schools will be made obligatory, but this is no new departure as under the present regime Catholic instruction was obligatory in the schools since the establishment of the Fascist state. However, the Jewish children attending Italian public schools are not affected by this compulsory measure, Rev. Parsons stated, as the parents of the children have the right to ask for their exemption during religious instruction.
A more detailed statement on the question will be available in a few days, Dr. Parsons stated to the representative of the Jewish Daily Bulletin.
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