Italy Bishops Attack Government Over Scandals - Swissinfo 9/28/11 9:18 AM

Italy bishops attack government over scandals - swissinfo 9/28/11 9:18 AM

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Sep 26, 2011 - 20:01 REUTERS ELECTIONS 2011 Italy bishops attack government over scandals September 28, 2011 - 13:55 Exclusive - Libya's Gaddafi By Philip Pullella hiding near Algeria border

September 28, 2011 - 14:30 ROME (Reuters) - Italy's powerful Catholic Church issued a NATO reinforces tense blistering attack on the ruling political class on Monday, saying Kosovo border crossing In October the Swiss at home the country needed to "purify the air" contaminated by licentious and abroad will elect a new behaviour that had sullied its name around the world. September 28, 2011 - 14:21 parliament for the next four Syrian tanks pound anti- years. A speech by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco to fellow bishops did not Assad fighters for second specifically name Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi but he left little day Italy's Prime Minister THE ARAB SPRING doubt he was referring to the sex and corruption scandals that Silvio Berlusconi attends a session at the dog Berlusconi and his centre-right government. September 28, 2011 - 15:35 Parliament in Rome China authorities under fire (reuters_tickers) "It is mortifying to witness behaviour that not only goes counter after Shanghai subway to public decorum but is intrinsically sad and hollow," said the head of the Italian Bishops September 28, 2011 - 12:05 Conference. Yemenis protest again, A Swiss view of the upheavals tribesmen shoot down plane Bagnasco said Italians had been left in a state of "dumbfounded astonishment" by a ruling in North Africa and the Middle East. political class that was enmeshed in scandal and preoccupied with self-preservation while September 28, 2011 - 15:14 the country suffered from an economic crisis. More insecurity, civilian casualties in Afghanistan: STRONG FRANC - "The image is one of a country that is estranged, without impulse, as if everyone is waiting U.N. CAUSE AND for the inevitable," he said. September 28, 2011 - 13:24 EFFECTS Until now the Vatican and the Italian Catholic Church have been hesitant in their criticism Russia's Putin faces of the centre-right, fearing that a leftist government could back measures it opposes, such warnings of crisis as gay marriage and embryonic stem-stell research. September 28, 2011 - 14:51 The strengthening of the franc Witness - My weekend at against other major currencies The political class, Bagnasco said, had a greater responsibility to live a moral life and set a The Hague Hilton has created more problems good example because its behaviour had "undeniable effects on culture and education" and than benefits. influenced the young and impressionable. September 28, 2011 - 15:52 Bahrain feels heavy weight Many in the political class were propagating a poisonous culture where success was of sectarian tension something that could be attained through connections and short cuts rather than hard work. He called for a radical re-think. September 28, 2011 - 16:47 Council takes first step on "It's not just a question of doing things differently but of thinking differently. There is a Palestinian U.N. bid need to purify the air so that new generations, as they grow, are not poisoned," he said. September 28, 2011 - 14:59 Analysis - Pakistan's The Catholic church no longer enjoys the political clout it had years ago but it is still one of double-game: treachery or the most influential forces in Italian society. strategy? There was no immedite reaction from the government but the centre-left opposition praised the prelate. "Bagnasco put up a clear 'stop sign' for certain lifestyles and abuse of public power that has nothing to do with the common good," said Rosy Bindi, president of the opposition Democratic Party.

NEW SCANDALS FOR BERLUSCONI

Berlusconi is facing four separate trials on corruption and charges of paying for sex with a minor. He has been engulfed by a new sex scandal just as financial troubles have raised fears that the Italian economy could suffer a Greek-style debt crisis. Current situation, weather, Wire-tapped conversations published by Italian newspapers have quoted Berlusconi as temperature boasting of "doing eight girls" in one night and organising trysts with prostitutes at his private residences. He was also quoted as saying that, with all his sexual activity, he was TEMPERATURES SWITZERLAND only prime minister "in my spare time." http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/Italy_bishops_in_stinging_attack_on_government_over_scandals.html?cid=31220616 Page 1 of 2 Italy bishops attack government over scandals - swissinfo 9/28/11 9:18 AM

Basel 24 °C

Bern 22 °C The cardinal spoke of "licentious behaviour and improper relations that damage society." Geneva 23 °C

Interlaken 24 °C

"People are looking at the protagonists of public life with consternation and the image of Locarno 24 °C the country abroad has been dangerously weakened," he said. Luzern 20 °C In recent weeks Berlusconi has faced damning criticism and more or less open calls to resign from pillars of the Italian establishment including employers group Confindustria, Zurich 22 °C the head of auto giant Fiat and newspapers including Corriere della Sera, Italy's most authoritative daily. Last updated: 17:38

Bagnasco read his speech at a previously scheduled conference four days after Pope Benedict said Italy badly needed "ethical renewal," a phrase the Italian media saw as a green light for Bagnasco to take the gloves off in Monday's speech.

(Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Matthew Jones)

Reuters

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