TL;DR

 

Is Comunione E Liberazione a faith-driven movement or God’s #lobbyists? Born as an #anticommunist force during the 1968 #studentuprisings, it’s now entwined with #politics, #money, and #power—mixing #religion with influence. Where does faith end and control begin? #Snarchy

God’s Lobby: Comunione e Liberazione.

 

There’s a peculiar smell in the air at the Rimini Meeting—a mix of incense, espresso and old-school power. This annual gathering of politicians, industrialists, and ecclesiastical elite is not just a “friendship meeting” but an unholy matrimony of piety and influence. Hosted by Comunione e Liberazione (CL), it’s where sermons meet handshakes, and spirituality is weaponised for something decidedly less divine.

 

Comunione e Liberazione—"Communion and Liberation" for those lucky enough not to have encountered it—is a Catholic lay movement that began in the 1950s under the guidance of Father Luigi Giussani. It purportedly exists to bring Christ into every corner of daily life. But let’s not be naïve: when a group claims to have God on speed-dial and also wields political influence, it’s less about divine liberation and more about human domination. It’s like the Vatican had a PR firm and thought, “What if we Trojan Horse Jesus into state power?”

A Sect or a Movement?

The Vatican officially recognises CL as a legitimate Catholic lay organisation, which is fair if you believe in the infallibility of ecclesiastical institutions. But this movement doesn’t just preach to the choir; it organises it, fills its pews with loyalists, and then asks them to vote. Some critics have described CL as a sect for its cultish loyalty to its founder and its insular, hierarchical structure. Others have gone further, calling it a “parallel church” with a moral compass that always seems to point towards Milan—where its political power finds its strongest roots.

But calling it a sect is almost too kind. Sects are about faith; CL is about faith and power, and it knows how to work a room. This is an organisation that starts with the rosary and ends with campaign donations. Not bad for a group ostensibly focused on spiritual renewal.

 

 

God’s Political Arm

If CL were just about faith, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. But the movement’s reach extends far beyond prayer meetings and Sunday sermons. Historically, it’s been deeply embedded in Italy’s political fabric, from its ties to the now-defunct Christian Democratic Party to its embrace of centre-right coalitions. Some of Italy’s most influential political figures—including Roberto Formigoni, the former governor of Lombardy—have been card-carrying members of this “spiritual” community. Formigoni’s conviction on corruption charges in 2019 didn’t exactly help CL’s image as a wholesome gathering of devout Catholics.

 

 

CL’s anti-communist roots run deep, particularly in its opposition to leftist movements during the student uprisings of 1968. As Marxist and anarchist groups occupied university campuses, CL positioned itself as a counterforce, defending traditional Catholic values and hierarchy. Its presence in elite universities often sparked violent clashes, reinforcing its reputation as a bastion of conservatism and a protector of Italy’s ruling classes. Critics argue that this elitist streak remains embedded in the movement, creating an insular community that mirrors the systems of power it claims to critique.

 

CL’s influence isn’t limited to politics. It’s a spider’s web that stretches into business, healthcare, and academia. With members occupying top-tier positions in these fields, the organisation’s ethos of “bringing Christ into every corner” starts to feel less like a spiritual calling and more like a corporate mission statement. Some critics allege that CL’s members favour each other in hiring, contracts, and promotions, creating a nepotistic ecosystem where the faithful rise and everyone else prays for scraps.

The Rimini Meeting: PR or Power?

At the centre of CL’s empire lies the Rimini Meeting, an annual event that’s part TED Talk, part papal conclave, and part business conference. Officially, it’s a celebration of faith and culture. Unofficially, it’s where deals are made, alliances are forged, and power is brokered. Think Davos, but with a crucifix.

The Rimini Meeting has attracted everyone from global CEOs to Italian prime ministers, making it a must-attend event for those who want to kiss the ring—metaphorically, of course. Critics argue that the meeting’s mix of religious rhetoric and political manoeuvring undermines its spiritual credibility. After all, when the guy sitting next to you is a CEO pitching a billion-euro infrastructure project, it’s hard to focus on the Sermon on the Mount.

Faith or Lobby?

So, is CL a lobby? Technically, no. It lacks the official structures of a lobbying organisation. But functionally, it operates like one. It’s a movement that marshals faith as a form of soft power, using its network to influence policy, culture, and commerce. When its members rise to power—and they often do—they bring CL’s ethos with them. Whether this is divine providence or strategic planning depends on your level of cynicism.

The Real Liberation

Here’s the rub: CL’s rhetoric of “liberation” is as hollow as a Sunday morning sermon in an empty church. Liberation from what? Certainly not capitalism, nationalism, or the structures of power that perpetuate inequality. If anything, CL reinforces these systems by embedding itself within them. Its members are less interested in liberation and more interested in communion with the powerful.

But perhaps the biggest irony of all is that CL’s ultimate promise—that faith can transform society—is undermined by its own actions. By entangling itself in politics and commerce, it risks becoming a caricature of the very institutions it claims to transcend. And while it preaches the gospel of Christ, it practices the gospel of influence, proving once again that power corrupts, even when it’s draped in a cassock.

Conclusion: A Cathedral of Control

Comunione e Liberazione is a case study in how religion can be co-opted as a tool of influence. It’s a reminder that the line between faith and power is often blurred, and that liberation—true liberation—requires more than communion with the status quo. It demands resistance, rebellion, and a willingness to question the institutions that claim to speak for God while serving Mammon.

 

#Snarchy #ComunioneLiberazione #FaithAndPower #GodsLobby #Politics

 

Glossary:

 

• sect (UK:*/sɛkt/) n. [countable] a small religious group that has separated from a larger one.

• hierarchical (UK:*/haɪəˈrɑːkɪkəl/) adj. arranged in levels of importance.

• nepotism (UK:*/ˈnɛpətɪzəm/) n. [uncountable] the unfair practice of giving jobs to relatives or friends.

• providence (UK:*/ˈprɒvɪdəns/) n. [uncountable] the protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power.

• Mammon (UK:*/ˈmæmən/) n. [uncountable] wealth regarded as an evil influence or false object of worship.