The abduction of Edgardo Mortara

In the 19th century, the Catholic world experienced complex times: the regimes that existed for centuries burst at the seams, the mortal threat of papal power was posed by adherents of the enlightenment and the French revolution, science challenged the unshakable foundations of faith. And on June 23, 1858, police officers arrived in the Bologna House of Solomon and Marianne Mortar - their goal was six -year -old Edgardo Mortar. The maid, fearing for the life of a boy who had recently suffered a serious illness, baptized him, and according to the law of the Papal region, Jews living on its territory were forbidden to educate Catholic children. Despite all the exhortations of the father and tears of the mother of the child were taken and sent to Rome. Thus began a series of events that forever changed Italy and became one of the most important milestones in the struggle for freedom of religion and human rights