Silvio Berlusconi. Ich war immer schon ein Gegner seiner politischen Ansichten. Doch nun will er auch noch, dass die katholische Kirche in Italien “herrscht”. Das heisst, mit ihm als Ministerpräsidenten und Medienmogul tut sie das schon heute.

“I thank the Pope for his appreciation of the new atmosphere which has broken out in Italy with the arrival of our political grouping in power. We model ourselves on the European Popular Party, and for the Vatican this is something to appreciate. We are on the Church’s side: we believe in the Christian tradition, in the undeniable value of life, on the role and the value of the family, on the defence of human rights, on solidarity, justice, tolerance. We respect the weaker members of society: the ill, children, the elderly, the marginalised. We are on the same wavelength as that on which the Church is active” affirmed Italy’s Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, just before his meeting with the Pope, scheduled for 11 am today. Berlusconi added: “We hold that all kinds of dialogue are possible between Church and State. The Church and its organisations are free to express their thoughts on anything, the lay state has every right to follow its own lights in the government’s deeds. My Government cannot fail to meet with the approval of the Pope and of the Church”.¹

hat tip to fivepublicopinions

1. AGI - BERLUSCONI: WE ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE CHURCH [↩]