St Francis's hometown Assisi bans begging: report

[FarCenter]

Source: Australian Broadcasting -- AFP

Assisi, the hometown of Saint Francis, the 13th century patron of the poor, has banned begging, an Italian newspaper has reported.

Assisi's right-wing Mayor Claudio Ricci has stopped people seeking handouts, lying down or sitting on the ground within 500 metres of town churches, other places of worship, squares and public buildings, said La Repubblica. The mayor of the town, in northern Italy, told the newspaper his ban was designed to "preserve the sacred character of Assisi without damaging its welcome".

But there have been protests. "Saint Francis is the saint of the poor and his teachings are still relevant. As a Christian, I don't understand it," said Renato Martino, president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. "I don't understand why it has to be banned by adopting a law. Even if some people take advantage, helping those who are in need is always a good thing to do."

The head of Assisi's Franciscan monastery, Vincenzo Coli said that St Francis "recommended recourse to begging only when it was not possible to sustain oneself through work". St Francis (1182-1226) converted to a life of piety after a short military experience led to imprisonment and illness.


Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/28/2228779.htm

[Teaser]

1. Let's preserve the sacred character of Assisi by subverting Francis' ideals

really lovely.

[nealmhughes]

2. This one has "Headless Body Found in Topless Bar" for a headline.

n/t

[ananda]

3. That mayor is a complete moronic asshole.

Sometimes I so really deeply hate everything
that rightwingers stand for.

I keep wondering: how do people like that
unchristian mayor get like that?

[Posteritatis]

4. 500m of chuches?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that leave about twelve square feet of most Italian towns uncovered?

[jeff30997]

5. "right-wing Mayor Claudio Ricci "

Is he related to ex right-wing Mayor Rudy Giuliani who basically did the same thing except for the church part?

[greengestalt]

6. Remember "Life for stealing a slice of Pizza?"

That was another action by "Good Christians". Specifically a Catholic church in Florida. Upper class yuppies, they once in a while let 'beggars' in for a charity banquet. One day one of them tried to sneak in for a meal and no less than the Priest called the police on him. Since he had a few 'felonies' (petty theft/disturbances when the rich charge the poor) he got the "Three strikes" thing.


And the Prophet Isa said "That which you do to the least of my creatures, so you do unto me." Of course, most "Good Christians", especially the "Religious Right" would pick a fight with him if they met him in RL. Especially since the 60's, "Hippie! Hippie!"


BTW-I call Jesus "The Prophet Isa" which is the Muslim name for him. I'm not Muslim, but I have Muslim friends and I do not support this illegal regime's racist war for profit that happens to use them as a scapegoat while it bleeds our country dry. Few are the Muslims who'd pick a fight with Jesus, many are the "Christians" and "Jews" who would do so.

[pingzing58]

7. Francis founded a mendicant order meaning "beggars." They begged like Buddhist monks of their day.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. St. Francis responds . . .

Tornado Chaser

[Peace Patriot]

9. Har-har! Brother, can you spare latte? nt

[Jack Rabbit]

10. !!

Manufactured Environments

[pingzing58]

11. Beware of falling fescoes on franciscans!

[CTyankee]

12. I was in Assisi in Nov. 06 and was strangely disappointed.

The religious gimcrackery was everywhere for sale on the streets, even in the basilica itself you got a pitch to buy a candle that one of the friars had blessed.

this was the only place in all of the Italian towns and cities I visited where a check was presented to us before we asked for it in a restaurant. Absolutely unheard of! But the waitress was obviously trying to turn the table over to the next customer.

That said, the Giotto frescoes are magnificent, not to be missed art. Everyone who loves and appreciates great art should visit just to see these massive masterpieces by one of the great Renaissance artists. Just try to ignore the religious hucksterism...