A thorny question has arisen in Italian politics concerning the payment of taxes by the Roman Catholic Church on returns from their vast properties in the nation. A law was passed in 1963 which requires that taxes be paid by individuals, corporations, and others; but the Vatican has made no statement of her earnings. She feels that she is exempt from all taxation, and she has certain opinions on her side; but this could pose a religious-political controversy of some magnitude. Deputy Premier Pietro Nenni, who is himself an agnostic, feels that the Church must pay taxes. There is an anti-clerical element in the political structure of the nation, while at the same time clericalism is well entrenched.
To understand some of the problems, it would be necessary to go back to the year 1870, when Garibaldi Giuseppe seized the Papal states, and confiscated considerable Church property. At that time the nation assumed pre-eminence over the Church and confined the Pope to the Vatican area. The Vatican wealth began to wane, and by the year 1922 the Church found itself hard pressed financially and had to borrow money to conduct the election of a new Pope.
By 1929 a new approachment was instituted between the Church and the government. A concordant was ratified between Pope Pius XI and the Kingdom of Italy on June 8 of that year. In this new document, called the "Lateran Treaty," the government agreed to pay the Church the sum of 91 million dollars for Church property seized in 1870, and also agreed that henceforth Church property would not be taxed. Thus the Lateran Treaty is the basis of the Vatican's contention that their earnings are not taxable.
From 1929, Vatican funds began to accumulate, until now it is one of the wealthiest organizations in Italy, and perhaps in the world. The rising tide of the Roman Church, as an instrument of international financial power, is furnishing ammunition for criticism. No one knows how great their power of wealth is, and it is said that only six persons in the Vatican know its worth or methods of operation. As the costs of government continue to mount, many officials are looking for more taxable income; and with socialist and communist strength in politics, there is an eyeing of the Vatican wealth as a likely source from which it can be drawn.
The Vatican has important financial connections in London, New York, and Switzerland; and it is in itself a banking syndicate of international scope. Its portfolio of investments is immense, and includes banks, utility companies, streetcar and bus lines, an air line, a shipping line, construction and insurance companies, steel, chemicals, ceramics, and many other factories. It is financing a mammoth hotel in the heart of Rome, which is to be managed by the Hilton chain. It is also involved in the financing of a luxury apartment building, containing a hotel, offices, and shops, in Washington, D.C.
It would be impossible to estimate the other vast holdings of the Church, which are found in cathedrals and palaces, besides enormous treasures of works of art—such as paintings and tapestries—Byzantine articles of gold, silver, and precious stones, ivories, and many old and priceless articles.
This treasure-trove beyond calculation causes the atheistic and materialistic elements in the world to envy the great Church structure, and to cast covetous eyes upon it. Just recently we had our attention called to a report in The Detroit News to the effect that the purchasing power of the Catholic Church is being placed behind the struggle of racial groups to obtain equal job opportunities. One statement focuses on the greatness of this Church, which it is said is "Next to the federal government... as America's largest purchaser of goods and services through its dioceses and religious orders."
The Roman Catholic Church is perhaps stronger and more vibrant today than ever before in its history, but there is also a strong and growing strength in Italian communism. These seem to be contradictory trends, and in the end they are destined to come into conflict.
In the 1963 elections in Italy, the communists gained 18% in voter strength, and socialism is a growing power. This goes together with an increase in agnosticism, infidelity, and atheism. We have lived to witness the great upheaval in Russia, when the Russian Orthodox Church was almost demolished, and her treasures scattered and broken. A t that time atheism took over, and efforts were made to blot out the name of God from their land. The same thing is at work in this and other lands, and men are looking forward to the day when God will be openly cast off; and they will boast in their freedom, only to be more the slaves of sin and of Satan.
There are two chapters in Revelation—17 and 18—which bring before us the latter end of religion. In the former chapter we are introduced to a woman who is to sit upon "a scarlet-colored beast." And this beast is to be full of the names of blasphemy. He is to be the great head of an empire which will soon be revived; its seat is to be the city of Rome—the city known for its "seven hills." The woman is to sit upon these seven hills, and also to sit upon many waters, from which we learn that they are "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." It is a vast religious organization which will help to direct and control the beast. In this chapter she is called a "harlot," which means that she will not be faithful to Christ who was rejected on earth; for she will have all the marks that will attract man. She is to be arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with "gold and precious stones and pearls." The earth will be dazzled by her splendid array. The word "harlot" marks her carrying on of illicit commerce with the kings of the earth who will enrich her and be enriched by her; but, after a time, the great head of this conglomerate empire, together with his subservient kings, will hate her and destroy her. God will put it into their hearts to turn their kingdoms over to the beast until His words will be fulfilled.
The latter chapter gives a description of this same body as an organized city, rather than as the woman. It is called "that great city Babylon." It will be noted as a city of confusion- Babel. It is to be a cage filled with unclean and hateful birds; but it will be no mean city, for it will be very great and wealthy. The merchants will acquire wealth by the "abundance of her delicacies." But suddenly that which is called a city will be brought to desolation. The kings and rulers who have benefited by her "shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: the merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, and cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men."
This is often referred to as Babylon's general store; enumerated are the things in which she traffics. The last named should more correctly read, "bodies and souls of men." Are they her least valued merchandise? Her activities remind us of the earthly and not heavenly character of that which claims to be Christ's Church here. The very name (Babylon) given by the Spirit of God to this representative city indicates that which takes the place of exceeding loftiness and grandeur on earth. "For she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow." But all the loftiness and presumed greatness of man and his religion will be brought down. It will then be said, "Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to naught."
The next chapter, the 19th, describes another scene altogether, for heaven will rejoice when the false church is destroyed and when "the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready" (v. 7). She will be one of purity and absolute holiness when the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, will "present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing" (Eph. 5:2727That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)).
"We wait for Thee, O Son of God,
And long for Thine appearing."