A parish priest has been forced to apologise after his plans to bless hunter’s rifles after Sunday Mass triggered outrage in Italy.
Don Alessio Biagioni – of San Michele Arcangelo church in Marliana, Tuscany – had pledged to carry out the special service to mark the start of Italy’s hunting season.
But the ultra-conservative priest turned to social media to say sorry after his plans caused an outcry among animal lovers and environmentalists.
In a parish information poster, the disgraced don had first announced: “Blessing of the rifles at the end of the Holy Mass at nine o’clock in Piazza della Chiesa on Sunday 3rd September.”
But Don Alessio – whose motto is ‘Pro Life. Pro Family. Pro Suit and Tie’ – climbed down in a post on 30th August to say sorry.
And despite apologising, he still tried to justify the blessings.
The priest said: “I was amazed and very sorry about the reactions, sometimes even expressed with violent words, aroused by the initiative of the blessing on the occasion of the beginning of the hunting season.”
He added: “I apologise if the expression to bless the rifles may have been such as to be misunderstood as some ‘sanctification of an instrument of death’ by the Church.”
He argued that the event was meant to be an opportunity to pray as the hunting season gets underway.
Don Alessio said: “The shotgun is not only a tool used with the greatest attention by hunters but also a means to be used with care, prudence and skill.”
He argued: “It seemed obvious to me to concentrate the blessing on that instrument to ask for the Lord’s protection where human skill and prudence alone cannot guarantee safety.
“I am sorry that the question has been interpreted as a deviation from the care of creation or from the respect for human life that the Church has always defended.”
Don Alessio – who has more than 1,000 Instagram followers – went on to say: “Hunting is a sport rooted in our territory. It involves care and attention to the surrounding environment.
“It is meticulously regulated by regional and national regulations, so I won’t dwell on the prudence and attention that this sport requires.”
Environmentalists and residents have called on the priest to resign.
Animal rights activists from ENPA, the National Board For The Protection Of Animals, said: “The same guns that will kill thousands of wild animals for fun. Where are the teachings of St. Francis?”
The infuriated campaigners added: “Wouldn’t a moment of prayer for all creatures be more appropriate?”
Another eco organisation, the Italian Defence Of Animals And The Environment (AIDAA), said: “In his statement, Don Alessio Biagioni has defined hunting as a sport.
“This is an anthropocentric vision where animals seem to be nothing more than a target without the right to life. It is unacceptable.”
They added: “We believe that suspending the initiative is not enough. We ask the bishop to remove Don Alessio from his post and to evaluate the hypothesis of the suspension of the same priest at least until he repents.”
Netizens offered mixed reactions to the statement.
User ‘SivioZoppi72pt’ commented: “In my opinion, we should at least inform ourselves before pointing fingers. Full solidarity for your mission!”
But ‘Costanza Divina’ said: “What Christian Church is this? Blessing the rifles for the opening of the hunt?
“With all the ensuing tragic consequences – deaths, injuries, slaughter of animals, environmental pollution from lead and consequent poisoning of birds of prey – I don’t see anything Christian about it.”
Neither the Tuscan Administration of the Roman Catholic Church nor the Vatican commented on the issue.
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Story By: Thomas Hochwarter, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
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