This is not about Benedict XVI, but I am posting it here because the news is significant enough. It is the first reaction from a ranking Church official so far to the new round of charges of immoral behavior against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The headlines are, as usual, misleading. Expressing 'deep concern' about 'the responsiblity of politicians towards families and the new generations' is hardly lambasting. Cardinal Bertone was actually quite tactful in simply referring to Italian President Napolitano's own circumspect remarks over Berlusconi's private behavior.
But Avvvenire, the newspaper of the Italian bishops has been more outspokenly critical, as it was last year, which led to the infamous Boffo episode that forced the resignation of Dino Boffo, then the editor of Avvenire and head of the Italian bishops' radio adn TV networks. After an editorial in Avvenire taking note of ts readers' vocal objections to Berlusconi's open libertinism, the editor of a leading newspaper owned by Berlusconi's brother reported that Boffo had been fined by a local court for telephone harassment in a case arising from a homosexual affair by Boffo. and alleged further that Boffo was a 'known homosexual' to Italian police. The allegations on homosexuality were false, and two months later, the editor retracted his story. L'Osservatore Romano has so far kept from reporting anything of Berlusconi's personal problems.
Vatican lambasts Berlusconi
over sex scandal
ROME, Jan. 20 (dpa) - The right-hand man of Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday urged Silvio Berlusconi to show moral rectitude and respect for the law, expressing deep concern over the latest sex scandals involving Italy's prime minister.
"The Church encourages and invites everyone, particularly those who have public responsibilities ... to assume and endeavour in a more robust morality and a greater sense of justice and lawfulness," Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone told reporters.
Bertone, who as secretary of state is the most important official in the Vatican after the Pope, is the most prominent Catholic Church official to have yet spoken out against Berlusconi's involvement with teenage prostitutes.
When asked about the scandal by reporters, the cardinal echoed Italian President Giorgio Napolitano's "deep concerns" and said he was following the latest developments with "particular attention."
Berlusconi, like other prime ministers before him, has tried to forge close ties with the Vatican, which retains great influence on voters. Bertone's comments were set to further weaken the Premier, who only last month narrowly survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament.
Without ever naming the conservative prime minister, Bertone noted that politicians had "great responsibilities, especially towards families and the new generations."
Earlier Thursday, a financial consultant working for the premier said Berlusconi personally authorized payments to young women who allegedly attended sex parties at his home, adding to the mounting evidence against the embattled premier.
But Giuseppe Spinelli said in a newspaper interview that the money given to the women - whom he described as cash-strapped students or "single mothers" - formed a small part of several charity handouts approved by the media magnate turned politician.
"One day we would help an organization for children suffering from leukaemia, while the next a student who needed to pay her rent," Spinelli told Milan daily
Corriere della Sera.
On Monday, prosecutors in Milan submitted to Parliament documents containing alleged evidence that Berlusconi financially supported and slept with a "significant number" of prostitutes, including an underage Moroccan.
Prosecutors also want to examine documents and files in Spinelli's possession that allegedly refer to the payments.
Spinelli, who manages Berlusconi's Fininvest holdings, said the number of women who had received money from the premier had been exaggerated.
"During the course of a day's work, it would take me at most 10 minutes" to arrange payments for the women, Spinelli said.
He also referred to a Moroccan go-go dancer, Karima El Mahroug, who first attended parties at Berlusconi's house when she only 17 years old.
Prosecutors are investigating underage prostitution charges against Berlusconi related to his relationship with El Mahroug, who uses the stage-name Ruby Rubacuori (Ruby stealer-of-hearts).
Berlusconi and El Mahroug deny having had sex with each other, an assertion contested by prosecutors who say evidence shows she stayed overnight at the premier's house on several occasions.
"Ruby was very insistent," Spinelli said.
He recalled how, on one occasion, Ruby had visited his office and received 50 euros (67 dollars) to pay for a taxi fare, which had been authorized personally by Berlusconi.
"I would ask him (Berlusconi) directly," Spinelli said, referring to the money transfers made to Ruby and the other women involved in the case.
Asked if he was shocked about reports that the women participated in orgies with the premier, Spinelli said he had not yet read the documents prepared by prosecutors.
Berlusconi has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. In a video broadcast on Wednesday, the 74-year-old premier said: "There was no corruption, no promotion of prostitution, even less involving minors."
Instead, Berlusconi accused prosecutors and investigating magistrates of abusing their power and said they should be 'punished'.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 20/01/2011 22:47]