17 October 2011 – Power of sharing
http://survivorsvoice-europe.org/?p=2849
For the last two weeks we have been trying to obtain confirmation from the authorities in Rome of the permit to hold our meeting at Castel Sant’Angelo on October 29. Maybe… it is understandable that the authorities are careful with giving out permits for demonstrations after the riots there. But as we are not going to march or demonstrate they have already confirmed there is no real objection and the permit should be obtained. Like last year…
Since this afternoon, however, it became apparent that somebody objects to us holding our annual meeting in the proximity of the Vatican. Comment received today during our numerous telephone conversations:
Q.: “We obtained the permit last year and have fully cooperated with the paramilitary police on site last year?”
A.: “…There is a new director and he has decided that no manifestations (in any form) may be held at Castel Sant’Angelo anymore…”
Q.: “Can you tell me what the status is of our request?”
A.: “…We are waiting for an answer…”
Q.: “From whom?”
A.: “…We can not tell you from whom the answer has to come…”
Interference from the Vatican
At the first contact, weeks ago, someone mentioned that there had been a formal complaint about the way Federico Lombardi (spokesman of the Vatican) had been treated at our meeting last year. Referring to the mass of journalists and a few Survivors who wanted to talk to him last year when he walked in…
Who could have made such complaint other than the Vatican?
We reminded that person at the questura (the authorities) of the worldwide spread press release from mr. Lombardi himself, only days after the meeting last year, that he was pleased to meet with us and that he was looking forward to cooperate with us in the fight against childabuse.
Thus being in absolute contradiction with the necessity to file a formal complain about the way he was treated???
(These press releases are not hard to find on the internet as they were spread in all languages and all over the world!)
Today (again) an indication was made that the Italian authorities are waiting for a decision from the Vatican. Without that decision they can not formally confirm our permit for the event at Castel Sant’Angelo.
Tonight another person informed us (after pushing for an answer as we need to communicate the arrangements in time) that we would obtain the permit, but maybe for another place in Rome, not at Castel Sant’Angelo!
What makes Castel Sant’Angelo so important?
For us?
(1) Castel Sant’Angelo was the place where we met last year for the first time.
(2) At the occasion of our talks with him we promised mr. Lombardi (whose office at Radio Vaticano is overlooking the square in front of Castel Sant’Angelo) that we would be back there this year if the relations with the Vatican would not improve.
(3) Castel Sant’Angelo is the closest place to the Vatican, and in view of the Vatican, where public demonstrations are allowed. (The border of the state of the Vatican reaches far within Italy as you can see…)
(4) Last but not least the position gives great pictures for the media who will again be there to report on our meeting.
Therefore this little square 500m away from St. Peter square is important for us and we are not ready to give up our request easily.
For the Vatican?
The Vatican does not like to see displays of disaffection too close to St. Peter’s Square. The picture there should always be of cheering, devote, enchanted, followers. Not people hurt by priests or nuns during their childhood. The further away the easier to ignore… Pictures of protesters with St. Peter in the background are not good publicity!
They do not depict well the beautiful dream world they like the world to believe they have build.
People coming to visit Rome should only see the splendour and display of power, not the dark side of where that richness is coming from or how many lives the collection of such fortune has cost.
That is why the Vatican does not want us on Castel Sant’Angelo and rather as far away as possible from their windows.
Somehow it fills me with pride that apparently we are getting to them; that we disturb their quiet life.
Because they should be disturbed and they must be reminded of the ruins they left and are leaving behind them when pedophiles find refuge behind their walls of secrecy and narcissistic ignorance of human rights. So if we are moved to another location in Rome, because of the Vatican, we will make sure the world will know all about it as every journalist will already have heard beforehand of their delaying tactics and their effort to discourage us.
This hick-up is not going to disturb our meeting, we will meet in Rome and we will hold our party as planned and the Vatican would be wise to eliminate the disruption immediately.
We will together celebrate our lives taken back: whether the Vatican likes it or not!
Ton Leerschool
Survivors Voice Europe
