Top cardinal slams moral decay in Italian leaders

‘Their behaviour violates public dignity’:

Italy: A senior Catholic cardinal on Monday condemned Italian leaders whose behaviour violates public dignity, but did not name the prime minister who is accused of paying for sex with a 17-year-old pole dancer.

Silvio Berlusconi, who is 74, faces a series of legal cases, including one related to the dancer and alleged prostitute nicknamed Ruby.

An Italian court on Monday excluded 10 witnesses who had been scheduled to testify on his behalf in a fraud case.

Judges in this case said they blocked the witnesses because the trial had dragged on too long and statute of limitation complications were looming.

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, head of the conference of Italian bishops, meanwhile condemned “behaviour that, if proven, is difficult to reconcile with institutional decorum”.

“Anyone who chooses to be active in politics must be conscience of a measure of sobriety, discipline and of the honour that (politics) entails,” the cardinal said.

Bagnasco also denounced “behaviour that is contrary to public dignity”. He scolded the media for reporting on “licentious behaviour and improper relations”, and said continued coverage of scandals surrounding public figures could undermine Italy’s image abroad.

Berlusconi has been previously criticised by the Roman Catholic Church over the Ruby scandal, which has created a media firestorm in Italy.

Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday called for “an increasingly intense ethical renewal for the good of beloved Italy” in a telegramme to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, sent as he set off on a four-day trip to Germany.

It is a tradition for the pope to send a message to the Italian president when leaving on international visits.

The head of the Milan court judging the fraud charges involving Berlusconi’s business empire Mediaset, Edoardo D’Avossa, said Monday the trial risked running past the statute of limitations,” and so there was no time for 10 additional witnesses. AFP