Pressioni ecclesiastiche e poteri pubblici contro il proselitismo protestante in Italia (1947-1955)

This article’s aim is to analyze the reactions of Italian Catholics towards the Protestant presence and proselytisem in post Second World War Italy (1947-1955). In particular, it wants to show the methods used by the ecclesiastical authorities to involve State powers in their anti-Protestant campaign. This campaign was possible because of the role played by the Christian Democrat Party in the government and due to the survival of some fascist laws and decrees. The Catholic Church and the Italian State were allied together to fight Protestant proselytisem, which they considered alien to traditional Italian culture and dangerous for the spiritual unity of the Italian people. Pentecostalism was considered particularly dangerous, not only from the religious point of view but also with regard to public safety. The Ministry of the Interior extensively applied the authoritarian «circolare Buffarini-Guidi» of 1935 against the Pentecostals, despite it being clearly unconstitutional. The American Church of Christ, which had encouraged active proselytisem in the countryside surrounding Rome, was also under strict control, but in this case the Italian government could not enforce its proscription due to American diplomatic protests.