Mortara case

Oppenheim - Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara - 1862

Pope Pius IX 1867 Harper's Weekly

Italy 1843

San Domenico75

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Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli 1873

Mortara Case

The Mortara Case was a controversial incident that occurred in the Papal States in 1858, involving the abduction of a six-year-old Jewish boy named Edgardo Mortara by the Papal authorities. This event sparked international outrage and had significant implications for the Jewish community, the Catholic Church, and the political landscape of the time.

Background

Edgardo Mortara was born into a Jewish family in Bologna, then part of the Papal States, in 1851. According to reports, a Catholic servant in the Mortara household baptized Edgardo when he was seriously ill, believing the ritual would save his life. Under the laws of the Papal States, a Christian child could not be raised by Jewish parents. When the Papal authorities learned of the baptism, they took Edgardo from his family, intending to raise him as a Catholic.

The Abduction

The abduction of Edgardo Mortara was carried out by the Papal police. The event caused a significant uproar, both within the Papal States and internationally. Edgardo's parents, Momolo Mortara and Marianna Mortara, were devastated and began a long struggle to regain custody of their son, which garnered widespread sympathy and support.

International Reaction

The Mortara Case received widespread attention and was condemned by many governments and public figures around the world. It highlighted the tensions between religious authority and emerging notions of civil and religious liberties. The case became a cause célèbre, with international efforts made to pressure the Papacy to return Edgardo to his family.

Aftermath

Despite international outcry, the Papal authorities refused to return Edgardo Mortara to his Jewish family. He was raised in the Catholic faith and eventually became a priest. The case had lasting effects on the relationship between the Jewish community and the Catholic Church, and it contributed to the movement for the unification of Italy and the reduction of Papal power.

Legacy

The Mortara Case remains a significant event in Jewish-Catholic relations and is often cited as an example of religious intolerance and the infringement of parental rights. It has been the subject of numerous books, articles, and scholarly studies, reflecting its continued relevance to discussions on religious freedom, the rights of children, and the separation of church and state.