Salvini’s use of the rosary beads and invocation of Catholic religion for his populist politics hurts – Gozo’s Bishop Grech

Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has said that it ‘hurts’ to watch Italy’s Home Affairs Minister Matteo Salvini brandish rosary beads and invoke European saints while insisting on putting a stop to the “Islamic invasion”.

Mgr. Grech was being interviewed on the Church’s radio station.

The Times reports that people who use their beliefs to bolster populism are manipulating religion and manipulating people’s mind, the bishop said.

“This is clear exploitation, when the homily preaches the polar opposite,” Mgr. Grech said.

During the interview, Mgr. Grech expressed his concern that Catholics with such narrow beliefs wanted to return to a sectarian Church that goes against the spirit of unity set by the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican.

Using Christian beliefs to affirm ideas of sovereignty is a sign of people who want to reverse the process of modernisation and accessibility for the Church, the Bishop said.

Via Times of Malta / Newsbook