Homeless people occupy historic basilica in Naples

Published: 2008-04-25

NAPLES, Italy (CNS) -- A group of 348 homeless people, including 115 children, occupied a historic basilica in Naples, demanding that government officials find them permanent public housing. Masses at the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, popularly known as "the Carmine," were suspended after the basilica was occupied April 4 by more than 150 people who had been forcibly removed from a building they had been illegally occupying for several years. The Carmelite priests, whose order has staffed the parish since the 13th century, have not made any public statements about the occupation. And Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe of Naples, who had been meeting regularly with city officials, commented publicly for the first time April 21. He said the city had promised him that the original group of homeless people, who were registered as residents of Naples, would be provided with temporary housing by April 23 or 24, but further meetings would be needed to find a solution for the homeless from other cities who have joined those occupying the church.

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