Italian Television Presenter Attacked Online for Wearing Rosary & Holy Medals
Marina Nalesso, an Italian TV presenter, has been the target of online attacks from secular atheists for wearing on TV a rosary and holy medals, including a St Benedict medal.
Marina Nalesso is a presenter on the state TV channel, TG1. Ms Nalesso stated that she wears the sacramentals “for faith and to make a statement”. Marina Nalesso's opponents have taken to twitter to voice their hostility towards her wearing religious symbols during TG1 broadcasts. Silvio Viale, a radical atheist and member of the Democratic Party in Turin tweeted. "Even today at TG1 the arrogance of a presenter wearing a rosary around their neck.” Others posted critical tweets, "Religion MUST be a private act. Leave rosaries at home, don’t take them to a public TV channel" and “Since when is TG1 with the Vatican? Rosaries and medals everywhere.” Ms Nalesso's critics have been described as those who want to remove all religious symbols from Italian television. Catholics and atheists have also taken to twitter to defend Marina Nalesso and her right to wear religious symbols during TV broadcasts. Italian politician and journalist Giorgia Meloni tweeted her support for Ms Nalesso, posting a message of 'solidarity'. Another tweeted, 'Veil, yes... but crucifix, no?' One commenter on newspaper site, Il Giornale, said: 'I am an atheist, but an intelligent one - and the crucifix doesn't bother me, otherwise I wouldn't live in Italy.' Source: EWTN UK