A prominent Italian cardinal lashed out at Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi's lifestyle, bringing the country's Roman Catholic Church
into the fray at a time of increasing political uncertainty in Italy.
"We need to speak out against the serious damage to a society
bombarded by perturbing and hedonistic messages that treat everything as
loaded jokes and amusement," Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan was
quoted as saying in an interview published Thursday in La Repubblica of
Rome.
A spokesman for the Cardinal confirmed the comments made to the
newspaper.
On Thursday Mr. Berlusconi reiterated that he is "ready to go to the
polls" for early elections if his center-right coalition doesn't stand
behind him. He also described the scrutiny of his personal life as a
"smear" campaign.
A spokesman for Mr. Berlusconi declined to comment on the Cardinal's remarks.
The Cardinal's interview marks the first time a well-known Italian
prelate has publicly weighed in on Mr. Berlusconi's openly declared
penchant for hosting parties with young women at his home.
Public
statements by Catholic officials are carefully watched, because the
church influences a large swath of Italy's voters.
For months Mr. Berlusconi's government has been teetering on the
brink of collapse.
A key ally has abandoned the prime minister's
governing coalition, and criticism of the 74-year-old premier has surged
following repeated reports of parties at his private residence.
Until recently, the leaders of Italy's Roman Catholic church had
steered clear of the country's volatile political sphere, saying
relatively little on Mr. Berlusconi's lifestyle. That stance, however,
appears to be shifting in the wake of the latest controversy.
Recently,
the prime minister acknowledged that in May he pressed police to release
a 17-year-old woman from custody—a disclosure that has prompted
criticism that Mr. Berlusconi overstepped his powers.
The woman, a Moroccan runaway who goes by the nickname Ruby and is
now 18, later was questioned by Milan prosecutors as part of a probe
into an alleged prostitution ring, according to people close to the
investigation.
During this questioning, Ruby told prosecutors that she
received payments and expensive gifts while attending late-night parties
at Mr. Berlusconi's private residence, these people said.
The
prosecutors subsequently placed two members of Mr. Berlusconi's
entourage under investigation for allegedly aiding and abetting
prostitution, according to these people.
Neither Ruby nor Mr. Berlusconi is under investigation in the probe,
according to the people close to the probe.
The prime minister has
described media reports about the investigation as "trash," and has said
that he pressed police for Ruby's release because he is a "man of the
heart."
A spokesman for Mr. Berlusconi on Thursday declined to comment
on the investigation or on Ruby.
Mr. Berlusconi's efforts over the past few days, to defuse the
scandal with attempts at humor have exacerbated the controversy.
"Better
to be passionate about beautiful young women than gay," he joked to
reporters on Tuesday, outraging supporters of gay rights as well as
ministers in his government.
In the interview Thursday, Cardinal Tettamanzi described Mr.
Berlusconi's recent remarks as an attempt to distract the Italian
public.
"In the times of the (ancient) Romans we called this 'panem et
circenses,'" Cardinal Tettamanzi said, using the Latin phrase for "bread
and circuses," a term coined during the Roman Empire to describe the
technique of showering the public with food and entertainment in times
of economic woe.
"The most serious problem is the one facing parents who must explain
what's happening to their children—to their daughters who are the same
age as the ones we see photos of in the newspapers these days," the
Cardinal said.
Mr. Berlusconi's conduct also has struck a discordant note with
groups that promote conservative values in Italy.
Organizers of the
Family Forum, a conference of Catholic and non-church groups who
advocate pro-family policies, expressed "embarrassment" over the
premier's remarks and lifestyle.
Mr. Berlusconi's spokesman declined to
comment on the remarks.
SIC: WSJ/INT'L