Two years ago I wrote that we may be seeing the first signs of what could be a new cultural renaissance in Italy. In March 2006, the Catholic News Agency reported that “a significant number of Italian lawmakers, politicians and intellectuals, led by the president of the Italian Senate, Marcello Pera and including such individuals as Italy’s Culture Minister, Rocco Buttiglione, presented a manifesto in which they attribute the confusion and fear in Europe over Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism to ‘a moral and spiritual crisis’ that prevents the continent from finding ‘the courage to react.’”

The article went on to say that “the

manifesto, endorsed by more than 70 different leaders in government, trade unions and universities, states that the West is ‘under attack from the outside by Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism’ and is ‘incapable of responding to the challenge.’” 

The authors of the manifesto argued that “Europe is sick.” They pointed out that “the birth rate continues to fall, as well as [Europe’s] competitiveness, unity and action on the world scene.  It hides and denies its own identity and thus fails to provide itself a legitimate constitution of its citizens.”

The document also argued for the “better integration of immigrants” (In other words, assimilation into Western culture) and defends the right to life “from conception to natural death.” Additionally, these leaders affirmed that the natural family is the foundation of society, and marriage and argued that it “must be protected and differentiated from any other type of union or bond.” Ultimately, these leaders acknowledged that continued commitment to radical secularism, moral ambiguity, and postmodern tolerance will form the basis of Europe’s ultimate demise.

Apparently, this anti-secular, conservative momentum has continued to build in the two years since. This past month, voters in Italy overwhelmingly re-elected pro-life conservative former Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi. The LA Times reported that “the margin of Berlusconi's victory, in which he and his allies gained indisputable control of both houses of parliament, also suggested a stinging condemnation of the left…”

Already, Berlusconi’s administration has proposed new laws restricting abortion, an issue which featured prominently in the election. Berlusconi has also called on the United Nations to approve a worldwide moratorium on abortions. Acknowledging this pro-life trend, Chuck Colson’s Breakpoint recently reported on Italy’s Giuliano Ferrara, a former Communist who now edits a conservative newspaper called Il Foglio, “the Sheet.” Colson writes, “Ferrara used his paper and talk show to advocate a moratorium on abortion and ‘to call attention to the value of life.’”

Colson adds, “This is not the first time Ferrara has bucked conventional secular wisdom. His paper has also supported the Catholic Church on matters like bioethics, relativism, and the decline of the Christian faith among Italians—this despite the fact that Ferrara is an atheist. While Ferrara insists that he is a ‘nonbeliever,’ other Italian politicians, as Britain’s New Statesman put it, ‘have been eagerly declaring their Christian credentials.’”

Colson continues, “According to the publication, this eagerness is a response to what it calls the ‘crucial change’ in Italian life since 2001: ‘the collapse of every grand political idea.’”