"An elderly woman from our parish was used as a shield between men who were standing outside the church asking for money." Recounting what happened in the churchyard of the Basilica of San Simplicio, parish priest Don Antonio Tamponi reported on social media a situation of ongoing tension between "gangs, constantly agitated by alcohol abuse," who were fighting for alms in front of the door of the place of worship. He also launched an appeal to the community.

The appeal

"You need to stop giving money to people loitering in churchyards: that euro you're giving isn't charity, it's madness that's fueling crime. We're not helping the community by doing so; it's a do-goodism that's creating an unmanageable situation ," says the priest. Father Tamponi's call for responsible solidarity and respect for civil rules on charity, to avoid disruption and unmanageable consequences: "We have soup kitchens, Caritas organizations, and shelters; we're full of food and aid; that's where it needs to go."