La Civiltà Cattolica
Encyclopedia
La Civiltà Cattolica is a Rome based Italian biweekly magazine
(or periodical) printed by the Jesuits
. The bimonthly journal was founded in 1850 with papal funding by order of the Pope and readers have recognised it as representing contemporary Vatican opinion. It has been praised and highly regarded by readers of Catholic
magazines. The magazine strives to appeal to a general audience, rather than any specific audience.
by a local group of Jesuits. The magazine was conceived by a Jesuit priest named Carlo Maria Curci
. Curci would become the first director of the Catholic magazine. His aim in publishing magazine was to defend what he called "catholic civilization" in modern society and in response to the perceived growing influence of liberals
and freemasons
The first issue was released on April 6, 1850. Father Curci had it published in Italian instead of Latin
, which his superiors would have preferred. Father Curci earned the full support of Pope Pius IX
, who wanted to have an effective means of defending Catholic thought, and of Cardinal
Giacomo Antonelli
. The then Superior General of the Jesuits, Father Joannes Philippe Roothaan (1783–1853), did not give the same support to the periodical, fearing that if they were to get involved in political issues, the reputation of the Society of Jesus would be damaged. Among the first editors are the following Jesuits:
Jesuit fathers Carlo Piccirillo (1821–1888) and Giuseppe Oreglia di Santo Stefano (1823–1895) contributed to the magazine while they were students. Many of these fathers would eventually form the first College of Writers, established on February 12, 1866 with the Apostolic Brief Gravissimum supremi of Pope Pius IX. Until 1933, the writers stayed anonymous. From that year on, the articles were then signed. The magazine initially had a polemic
tone to it, which it retained for several years. This was a typical way of writing in the 19th century (see also "Christian apologetics
"), a style which was also typical of the adversaries of the Church
.
Because of censorship
by the House of Bourbon
, the editorial office was transferred to Rome in 1850. After Rome was annexed to Italy in 1870 the journal moved to Florence before returning back to Rome in 1870. It was after the move back to Rome, and being placed under paricularly close papal supervision, that a fresh batch of articles dennouncing the Jews appeared in the journal. Kertzer, p. 311, fn. 19
during the second half of the 19th century, La Civiltà Cattolica contributed to the Syllabus of Errors
, the First Vatican Council
(1869–1870) and to the task of restoring Thomist philosophy, which flourished during the pontificate of Pope Leo XIII
(1878–1903). A consistently aggressively anti-evolution
position was taken by the journal, which was generally believed to have accurate information about the views of Vatican authorities. The opening in 1998 of the Archive of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
(in the 19th century called the Holy Office and the Congregation of the Index) has revealed that on many crucial points this belief was mistaken, and the journal's accounts of specific cases, often the only ones made public, were not accurate. The original documents show the Vatican's attitude
was much less fixed than appeared to be the case at the time.
It also held a prominent role in the Italian political
arena, following up closely on the events that led up to the unification of Italy
and the Roman Question
. After the Capture of Rome
in 1870, it was an obstacle for the liberalist
political party, who were a minority in the country. It also opposed modernism
.
, especially after the decline brought about by non expedit
. In 1930, in the aftermath of the signing of the Lateran treaty and the debate about relations between Church and State, the then director of the magazine, Father Enrico Rosa, had discussions with Alleanza Nazionale (an anti-fascist
) group of Catholic monarchists. In 1936 La Civiltà Cattolica dealt with the legitimacy of the colonial
annexations. The article was written by Father Antonio Messineo (1897–1968) when Italy was conquering Ethiopia
and in opposition to the League of Nations
. In 1937 the joint letter with which the Spanish bishop
s released on July 1 of the same year relating to the civil war
was published. In 1938 the journal published details of the new Italian race laws which revoked the citizenship of anyone "of Jewish race" who had acquired Italian citizenship after 1918, ordering those who were not citizens to leave the country within six months. The journal also described the expulsion of Jewish teachers and children from schools and Jews from academic occupations. After making some distinctions between the Church's and fascist approach to the "Jewish problem" the journal concluded that the battle against the Jews "is to be understood as a struggle inspired solely by the need for legitimate defense of Christian people against a foreign nation..the sworn enemy of their well-being. David Kertzer
notes that the only protest from the Pope regarding the new race laws related to the marital status of Jewish Catholic converts but none were issued relating to the persecution of Jews. According to the opinions of some Catholic historians La Civiltà Cattolica denounced all of the totalitarianism
s that marked the 20th century. This interpretation is not shared by other historians. The journal won the praise of fascist leaders such as Roberto Farinacci
who described it in 1939 as "the most authorative of all the Catholic periodicals", citing in particular an 1890 article which described the Jews as "a depraved race" and how "the reverend Jesuit fathers call for the annulment of all laws that give the Jews political and civil equality" and approving of a recent article that described Judaism as "profoundly corrupted" and that Jews sought "world domination". In the second post-war era
it cautioned against the danger of communism
in Italy and in the Eastern Europe
an countries. Very strong articles, such as those signed by Father Riccardo Lombardi (1908–1979), warned Catholics of the necessity of getting organized to combat the Left
in the campaign
of 1948. There was disagreement in the College of Writers as to whether it was opportune for Catholics to be allied with different parties. The director of the magazine, Father James Martegnani (1902–1981), was favorable towards a right-wing
coalition between the Front of the Ordinary Man, the Italian Social Movement
and a part of the Christian Democracy
party, and together with the bishop of Pompei
, Monsignor Roberto Ronca (1901–1978), helped to create the Christian political movement Civiltà Italica. However, a policy which was to conform to, though critical of, the strategies of Alcide De Gasperi
(1881–1954) prevailed, represented by Father Anthony Messineo and by Father Salvatore Lener (1907–1983). In the late 20th century The father Robert Graham
published articles which sought to refute the accusations relating to the "silence" of Pope Pius XII
and the Holocaust.
with some of its writers participating as experts. Due to the Council the magazine no longer took on a tone of opposition, but rather of dialogue
with the modern world, whilst holding to the truth it held in the teachings of Roman Catholicism. Pope John Paul II
influenced the Society of Jesus and it's magazine during his pontificate, promoting a mission
ary perspective and the revival of apologetical
articles, and the work of the New Evangelization
.
, the magazine was consistent in calling for Catholic political activity, in particular the reestablishment of Christian Democracy
at a time when secularism
was spreading throughout Italy, witnessed in the referendum defeats on issues such as divorce
and abortion
, with practicing Catholics becoming a minority in the country and thus weakening their political strength.
describes the Jesuits, like Himmlers SS, not admitting to its membership anyone with even an eighth part Jewish blood until after 1945, when the Vatican finally stepped in. In contrast, anti-Judaism involves a hostility or prejudice towards Jews for religious or cultural reasons. However, anti-Judaism is commonly treated as a synonym for anti-Semitism. When this definition is used the Church's pronouncements which they regarded as anti-Judaism are described by others as being anti-Semitic. Examples of permissible anti-Judaism from the past which are commonly treated as anti-Semitic by others would be the justification of segregation of Jews in the form of Ghetto's, emancipation from the ghetto as a privilege, and holding Jews responsible for many of societies ills. La Civiltà Cattolica condemned anti-Semitism based on race but did promote religious discrimination based on their perception of Jews as being responsible for deicide, ritual murder and their influence on society. The journal never approved of violence against Jews. In 1907 Hitler visited Vienna to "study the Jewish problem" under the guidance of the zealous Roman Catholic Karl Lueger
who was the city's mayor and leader of the "rabidly anti-Semitic" Christian Socialist Party. Hitler greatly admired Lueger and purchased his first anti-Semitic pamphlets published by the Christian Socialists which reprinted several articles from " La Civiltà Cattolica". Lapide (1967) thinks that Hitler may well have got some of his ideas from the Jesuit journal.
With the rise of Hitler in the 1930s the journal described the Jews as the "relentless irreconcilable enemies of Christ and of Christianity, particularly of integral and pure Christianity, the Catholicism of the Roman Church" In 1936 the journal reported that not a few Jews posed a grave and permanent danger to society because of their economic and political influence. In 1936 the Nazi "hate sheet" Der Stürmer
printed a special edition dedicated to "Jewish ritual murder" which included extensive quotations from "La Civiltà Cattolica".
In 1937 the journal returned to the "Jewish Problem" and affirmed Hillaire Bellocs opinion that the problem could only be solved by "elimination or segregation". The unidentified writer favoured means of achieving this was "a friendly and gentle manner, through absorption", the only method compatible with Christian principles, but Zuccotti (2000) describes language of elimination as being "so ominous in retrospect". The writer didn't dispute Bellocs proposal for "friendly segregation" at a time when Hitler was carrying out segregation in Germany
In his history of the journal De Rosa expressed regret at the journals century-long campaign against the Jews and that the journal only changed its stance through the influence of the Second Vatican Council
De Rosa in his history seeks to draw a distinction between anti-Semitism based on race, which he believes the journal never sanctioned, and anti-Judaism based on religious factors which he acknowledges the journal did promote, including charges of ritual murder and undue economic-political influence David Kertzer
see a disturbing trend in De Rosa's history and also We Remember the Shoah
that seeks to distance the Church from having influenced hatred towards the Jews that helped make the Holocaust possible. Kertzer points out that the anti-Judaism that the Church describes involved denunciation of the Jews not purely on religious grounds but also for socio-political reasons and thus "the whole carefully constructed anti-Semitic/anti-Judaism distinction evaporates
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
(or periodical) printed by the Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. The bimonthly journal was founded in 1850 with papal funding by order of the Pope and readers have recognised it as representing contemporary Vatican opinion. It has been praised and highly regarded by readers of Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
magazines. The magazine strives to appeal to a general audience, rather than any specific audience.
Papal influence
The bimonthly journal was founded in 1850 with papal funding by order of Pope Pius IX and readers recognised it as representing contemporary Vatican opinion Papal influence was demonstrated by the dismissal of it's first editor by Pius IX in 1875. A special 50th anniversary edition of the journal asserted "More than a simple journal [La Civiltà Cattolica] is an institution desired and created by the Holy See and placed at it's exclusive service for the defense of the Sacred doctrine and the rights of the Church". During the papacy of Pius X the editor of the journal began to be appointed by the pope or with his approval. During the 1920s and 30's the journal has been described as "extremely authoritative...because of its tight ties with the [Vatican] Secretary of State." The historian Richard Webster described its influence in 1938 as reflecting the views of the Pontiff. During the papacy of Pius XII all articles were reviewed prior to publication by the Secretariat of State.The founding of the periodical
La Civiltà Cattolica was first published in NaplesNaples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
by a local group of Jesuits. The magazine was conceived by a Jesuit priest named Carlo Maria Curci
Carlo Maria Curci
Carlo Maria Curci was an Italian theologian from Naples.He joined the Society of Jesus in 1826, and was devoted to the education and care of the poor and prisoners. Curci became one of the first editors of the Jesuit periodical, La Civiltà Cattolica...
. Curci would become the first director of the Catholic magazine. His aim in publishing magazine was to defend what he called "catholic civilization" in modern society and in response to the perceived growing influence of liberals
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
The first issue was released on April 6, 1850. Father Curci had it published in Italian instead of Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, which his superiors would have preferred. Father Curci earned the full support of Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
, who wanted to have an effective means of defending Catholic thought, and of Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Giacomo Antonelli
Giacomo Antonelli
Giacomo Antonelli was an Italian cardinal deacon. He was the Cardinal Secretary of State from 1848 until his death; he played a key role in Italian politics, resisting the unification of Italy and affecting Roman Catholic interests in European affairs...
. The then Superior General of the Jesuits, Father Joannes Philippe Roothaan (1783–1853), did not give the same support to the periodical, fearing that if they were to get involved in political issues, the reputation of the Society of Jesus would be damaged. Among the first editors are the following Jesuits:
- Luigi Taparelli D'Azeglio (1793–1862), philosopher of lawJurisprudenceJurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
. - Matteo LiberatoreMatteo LiberatoreMatteo Liberatore was an Italian Jesuit philosopher, theologian, and writer.-Life:...
(1810–1892), scholar of Thomist philosophyThomismThomism is the philosophical school that arose as a legacy of the work and thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, philosopher, theologian, and Doctor of the Church. In philosophy, his commentaries on Aristotle are his most lasting contribution...
, he was also on the cutting edge of the social teaching of the ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, to the point that Pope Leo XIIIPope Leo XIIIPope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
will ask him to write the Papal EncyclicalEncyclicalAn encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Catholic Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop...
Rerum NovarumRerum NovarumRerum Novarum is an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII on May 15, 1891. It was an open letter, passed to all Catholic bishops, that addressed the condition of the working classes. The encyclical is entitled: “Rights and Duties of Capital and Labour”...
. - Antonio Bresciani (1798–1862), scholar of literatureLiteratureLiterature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
. - Giovanni Battista Pianciani (1784–1862), scholar of Natural scienceNatural scienceThe natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
.
Jesuit fathers Carlo Piccirillo (1821–1888) and Giuseppe Oreglia di Santo Stefano (1823–1895) contributed to the magazine while they were students. Many of these fathers would eventually form the first College of Writers, established on February 12, 1866 with the Apostolic Brief Gravissimum supremi of Pope Pius IX. Until 1933, the writers stayed anonymous. From that year on, the articles were then signed. The magazine initially had a polemic
Polemic
A polemic is a variety of arguments or controversies made against one opinion, doctrine, or person. Other variations of argument are debate and discussion...
tone to it, which it retained for several years. This was a typical way of writing in the 19th century (see also "Christian apologetics
Christian apologetics
Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views...
"), a style which was also typical of the adversaries of the Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Because of censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
by the House of Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
, the editorial office was transferred to Rome in 1850. After Rome was annexed to Italy in 1870 the journal moved to Florence before returning back to Rome in 1870. It was after the move back to Rome, and being placed under paricularly close papal supervision, that a fresh batch of articles dennouncing the Jews appeared in the journal. Kertzer, p. 311, fn. 19
The 19th century battles
As a major figure of the cultural debate that took place in the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
during the second half of the 19th century, La Civiltà Cattolica contributed to the Syllabus of Errors
Syllabus of Errors
The Syllabus of Errors was a document issued by Holy See under Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1864, Feast of the Immaculate Conception, on the same day as the Pope's encyclical Quanta Cura.- Format :...
, the First Vatican Council
First Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This twentieth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held three centuries after the Council of Trent, opened on 8 December 1869 and adjourned...
(1869–1870) and to the task of restoring Thomist philosophy, which flourished during the pontificate of Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
(1878–1903). A consistently aggressively anti-evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
position was taken by the journal, which was generally believed to have accurate information about the views of Vatican authorities. The opening in 1998 of the Archive of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Archive of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Archive of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican , commonly referred to as the Archive of the Inquisition , contains the Catholic Church's documents dealing with doctrinal and theological issues related to church...
(in the 19th century called the Holy Office and the Congregation of the Index) has revealed that on many crucial points this belief was mistaken, and the journal's accounts of specific cases, often the only ones made public, were not accurate. The original documents show the Vatican's attitude
Evolution and the Roman Catholic Church
Since the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species in 1859, the attitude of the Catholic Church on the theory of evolution has slowly been refined. For about 100 years, there was no authoritative pronouncement on the subject. By 1950, Pope Pius XII agreed to the academic freedom to...
was much less fixed than appeared to be the case at the time.
It also held a prominent role in the Italian political
Politics of Italy
The politics of Italy is conducted through a parliamentary, democratic republic with a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised collectively by the Council of Ministers, which is led by the President of the Council of Ministers, referred to as "Presidente del Consiglio" in Italian...
arena, following up closely on the events that led up to the unification of Italy
Italian unification
Italian unification was the political and social movement that agglomerated different states of the Italian peninsula into the single state of Italy in the 19th century...
and the Roman Question
Roman Question
thumb|300px|The breach of [[Porta Pia]], on the right, in a contemporaneous photograph.The Roman Question was a political dispute between the Italian Government and the Papacy from 1861 to 1929....
. After the Capture of Rome
Capture of Rome
The Capture of Rome was the final event of the long process of Italian unification known as the Risorgimento, which finally unified the Italian peninsula under King Victor Emmanuel II of the House of Savoy...
in 1870, it was an obstacle for the liberalist
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
political party, who were a minority in the country. It also opposed modernism
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
.
The first half of the 20th century
At the beginning of the 20th century the magazine content was aimed at building up a Catholic ruling classRuling class
The term ruling class refers to the social class of a given society that decides upon and sets that society's political policy - assuming there is one such particular class in the given society....
, especially after the decline brought about by non expedit
Non Expedit
Non Expedit were the words with which the Holy See enjoined upon Italian Catholics the policy of abstention from the polls in parliamentary elections.-History:...
. In 1930, in the aftermath of the signing of the Lateran treaty and the debate about relations between Church and State, the then director of the magazine, Father Enrico Rosa, had discussions with Alleanza Nazionale (an anti-fascist
Anti-fascism
Anti-fascism is the opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals, such as that of the resistance movements during World War II. The related term antifa derives from Antifaschismus, which is German for anti-fascism; it refers to individuals and groups on the left of the political...
) group of Catholic monarchists. In 1936 La Civiltà Cattolica dealt with the legitimacy of the colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
annexations. The article was written by Father Antonio Messineo (1897–1968) when Italy was conquering Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and in opposition to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
. In 1937 the joint letter with which the Spanish bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s released on July 1 of the same year relating to the civil war
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
was published. In 1938 the journal published details of the new Italian race laws which revoked the citizenship of anyone "of Jewish race" who had acquired Italian citizenship after 1918, ordering those who were not citizens to leave the country within six months. The journal also described the expulsion of Jewish teachers and children from schools and Jews from academic occupations. After making some distinctions between the Church's and fascist approach to the "Jewish problem" the journal concluded that the battle against the Jews "is to be understood as a struggle inspired solely by the need for legitimate defense of Christian people against a foreign nation..the sworn enemy of their well-being. David Kertzer
David Kertzer
David I. Kertzer is Paul Dupee, Jr. University Professor of Social Science, Professor of Anthropology , Professor of History , and Professor of Italian Studies at Brown University. He became Provost of Brown on July 1, 2006...
notes that the only protest from the Pope regarding the new race laws related to the marital status of Jewish Catholic converts but none were issued relating to the persecution of Jews. According to the opinions of some Catholic historians La Civiltà Cattolica denounced all of the totalitarianism
Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is a political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible...
s that marked the 20th century. This interpretation is not shared by other historians. The journal won the praise of fascist leaders such as Roberto Farinacci
Roberto Farinacci
Roberto Farinacci was a leading Italian Fascist politician, and important member of the National Fascist Party before and during World War II, and one of its ardent anti-Semitic proponents.-Early life:...
who described it in 1939 as "the most authorative of all the Catholic periodicals", citing in particular an 1890 article which described the Jews as "a depraved race" and how "the reverend Jesuit fathers call for the annulment of all laws that give the Jews political and civil equality" and approving of a recent article that described Judaism as "profoundly corrupted" and that Jews sought "world domination". In the second post-war era
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
it cautioned against the danger of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
in Italy and in the Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
an countries. Very strong articles, such as those signed by Father Riccardo Lombardi (1908–1979), warned Catholics of the necessity of getting organized to combat the Left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
in the campaign
Political campaign
A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process within a specific group. In democracies, political campaigns often refer to electoral campaigns, wherein representatives are chosen or referendums are decided...
of 1948. There was disagreement in the College of Writers as to whether it was opportune for Catholics to be allied with different parties. The director of the magazine, Father James Martegnani (1902–1981), was favorable towards a right-wing
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
coalition between the Front of the Ordinary Man, the Italian Social Movement
Italian Social Movement
The Italian Social Movement , and later the Italian Social Movement–National Right , was a neo-fascist and post-fascist political party in Italy. Formed in 1946 by supporters of former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, the party became the fourth largest party in Italy by the early 1960s...
and a part of the Christian Democracy
Christian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
party, and together with the bishop of Pompei
Pompei
Pompei is a city and comune in the province of Naples in Campania, southern Italy, famous for its ancient Roman ruins. As of 2010 its population was of 25,671.-History:...
, Monsignor Roberto Ronca (1901–1978), helped to create the Christian political movement Civiltà Italica. However, a policy which was to conform to, though critical of, the strategies of Alcide De Gasperi
Alcide De Gasperi
Alcide De Gasperi was an Italian statesman and politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party. From 1945 to 1953 he was the prime minister of eight successive coalition governments. His eight-year rule remains a landmark of political longevity for a leader in modern Italian politics...
(1881–1954) prevailed, represented by Father Anthony Messineo and by Father Salvatore Lener (1907–1983). In the late 20th century The father Robert Graham
Robert Graham
Robert Graham may refer to:*Sir Robert Graham , one of the assassins of James I of Scotland*Robert Graham of Gartmore , Scottish politician and poet...
published articles which sought to refute the accusations relating to the "silence" of Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
and the Holocaust.
Ecclesial outlooks
The magazine gave abundant reports on the Second Vatican CouncilSecond Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
with some of its writers participating as experts. Due to the Council the magazine no longer took on a tone of opposition, but rather of dialogue
Dialogue
Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....
with the modern world, whilst holding to the truth it held in the teachings of Roman Catholicism. Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
influenced the Society of Jesus and it's magazine during his pontificate, promoting a mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
ary perspective and the revival of apologetical
Apologetics
Apologetics is the discipline of defending a position through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers...
articles, and the work of the New Evangelization
Evangelization
Evangelization is that process in the Christian religion which seeks to spread the Gospel and the knowledge of the Gospel throughout the world. It can be defined as so:-The birth of Christian evangelization:...
.
In the Italian political arena
At the time of the Historic CompromiseHistoric Compromise
In Italian history, the Historic Compromise was an accommodation between the Christian Democrats and the Italian Communist Party in the 1970s, after the latter embraced eurocommunism under Enrico Berlinguer. The 1978 assassination of DC leader Aldo Moro put an end to the Compromesso storico...
, the magazine was consistent in calling for Catholic political activity, in particular the reestablishment of Christian Democracy
Christian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
at a time when secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
was spreading throughout Italy, witnessed in the referendum defeats on issues such as divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
and abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, with practicing Catholics becoming a minority in the country and thus weakening their political strength.
Anti-Judaism/Semitism
According to Zuccotti (2000) anti-Semitism in the form of discrimination based on purely racial grounds has rarely featured in Roman Catholicism and during the 1920s and 30's it was condemned by Church spokesmen, though Pinchas LapidePinchas Lapide
Pinchas Lapide was a Jewish theologian and Israeli historian. He was an Israeli diplomat from 1951 to 1969, among other position acting as Israeli Consul to Milan, and was instrumental in gaining recognition for the young state of Israel. He wrote more than 35 books during his lifetime...
describes the Jesuits, like Himmlers SS, not admitting to its membership anyone with even an eighth part Jewish blood until after 1945, when the Vatican finally stepped in. In contrast, anti-Judaism involves a hostility or prejudice towards Jews for religious or cultural reasons. However, anti-Judaism is commonly treated as a synonym for anti-Semitism. When this definition is used the Church's pronouncements which they regarded as anti-Judaism are described by others as being anti-Semitic. Examples of permissible anti-Judaism from the past which are commonly treated as anti-Semitic by others would be the justification of segregation of Jews in the form of Ghetto's, emancipation from the ghetto as a privilege, and holding Jews responsible for many of societies ills. La Civiltà Cattolica condemned anti-Semitism based on race but did promote religious discrimination based on their perception of Jews as being responsible for deicide, ritual murder and their influence on society. The journal never approved of violence against Jews. In 1907 Hitler visited Vienna to "study the Jewish problem" under the guidance of the zealous Roman Catholic Karl Lueger
Karl Lueger
Karl Lueger was an Austrian politician and mayor of Vienna. The populist and anti-Semitic politics of his Christian Social Party are sometimes viewed as a model for Hitler's Nazism.- Career :...
who was the city's mayor and leader of the "rabidly anti-Semitic" Christian Socialist Party. Hitler greatly admired Lueger and purchased his first anti-Semitic pamphlets published by the Christian Socialists which reprinted several articles from " La Civiltà Cattolica". Lapide (1967) thinks that Hitler may well have got some of his ideas from the Jesuit journal.
With the rise of Hitler in the 1930s the journal described the Jews as the "relentless irreconcilable enemies of Christ and of Christianity, particularly of integral and pure Christianity, the Catholicism of the Roman Church" In 1936 the journal reported that not a few Jews posed a grave and permanent danger to society because of their economic and political influence. In 1936 the Nazi "hate sheet" Der Stürmer
Der Stürmer
Der Stürmer was a weekly tabloid-format Nazi newspaper published by Julius Streicher from 1923 to the end of World War II in 1945, with brief suspensions in publication due to legal difficulties. It was a significant part of the Nazi propaganda machinery and was vehemently anti-Semitic...
printed a special edition dedicated to "Jewish ritual murder" which included extensive quotations from "La Civiltà Cattolica".
In 1937 the journal returned to the "Jewish Problem" and affirmed Hillaire Bellocs opinion that the problem could only be solved by "elimination or segregation". The unidentified writer favoured means of achieving this was "a friendly and gentle manner, through absorption", the only method compatible with Christian principles, but Zuccotti (2000) describes language of elimination as being "so ominous in retrospect". The writer didn't dispute Bellocs proposal for "friendly segregation" at a time when Hitler was carrying out segregation in Germany
In his history of the journal De Rosa expressed regret at the journals century-long campaign against the Jews and that the journal only changed its stance through the influence of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
De Rosa in his history seeks to draw a distinction between anti-Semitism based on race, which he believes the journal never sanctioned, and anti-Judaism based on religious factors which he acknowledges the journal did promote, including charges of ritual murder and undue economic-political influence David Kertzer
David Kertzer
David I. Kertzer is Paul Dupee, Jr. University Professor of Social Science, Professor of Anthropology , Professor of History , and Professor of Italian Studies at Brown University. He became Provost of Brown on July 1, 2006...
see a disturbing trend in De Rosa's history and also We Remember the Shoah
We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah
We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah is a document published in 1998 by the Catholic Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, under the authority of Pope John Paul II. In this document the Vatican condemned Nazi genocide and called for repentance from Catholics who had failed to...
that seeks to distance the Church from having influenced hatred towards the Jews that helped make the Holocaust possible. Kertzer points out that the anti-Judaism that the Church describes involved denunciation of the Jews not purely on religious grounds but also for socio-political reasons and thus "the whole carefully constructed anti-Semitic/anti-Judaism distinction evaporates