Political theology

Fascism set out to present itself as a true "political religion". Thanks to a self-inspired aura of sacredness the regime endowed itself with a superior legitimacy. The adversary became an "enemy of the nation" to be pursued and banished. However, conflicts with the Church were inevitable, especially from 1927 to 1931 when Mussolini dissolved many Catholic youth associations in our own province. The Brescia Curia, led by bishop Monsignor Giacinto Gaggia, therefore, rather than curbing its apostolic action put up a tenacious and stubborn resistance to fascism’s inroads into its own vast lay organization. Brescia may have adapted but it did not give up the fight.