Ignazio Silone, the Italian author of "Bread and Wine," broke with the church in his youth. The issue was not doubt or dissent about the substance of faith but a disillusionment with the church's lack of courage and credibility in facing the grave social questions of the day.
Conversation
In a period that saw the rise of fascism, with all its attendant crimes and violence, "the bishops' pastoral letters to the faithful went on discussing such themes as women's immodest dress, promiscuous bathing on the beaches, new dances of exotic origin, and bad language."
I've been a fan of his ever since reading Nicola Chiaromonte, his wonderful little book about novels and history. Such an amazing generation of Italian thinkers.
