The Italian Catholic Church has decided enough is enough and is now speaking clearly against the way Berlusconi has behaved and is dealing with the allegations of late-night parties with escorts in his Sardinian and Roman homes.
In an editorial piece in L'Avvenire, the newspaper of the Italian Catholic Church, the director Dino Boffo says "This story is not at all pleasing, and from what we can gather a large part of the country is not pleased either".
"We do not like it that certain behaviours are justified through opinion polls - as if a lack of public condemnation can forgive the behaviour."
What is significant about L'Avvenire's criticism is that this is the first time that their director himself is signing a critical editorial piece and it is also the first time that they publish letters from readers critical of Berlusconi's behaviour. It almost points to a situation where the Catholic Church can no longer stay on the sidelines and is feeling the pressure from the faithful and the bishops to speak out.
One such letter says: "I listened to the recordings on the website of Espresso myself, the voice of our Prime Minister Berlusconi that was talking with Ms. D'Addario (a known prostitute) inviting her to wait for him in Putin's big bed". I would like it very much if your newspaper talked more clearly about the shameless behaviour of our Prime Minister which appears anything but troubled by God".
Another letter accuses Berlusconi of denying to have behaved in a way that is "wholly unacceptable for a man with two wives, five children, huge public responsibilities and a considerable age". This reader concludes "I do not hide the profound bitterness of all my family for the fact that the Church has not bene more outspoken with regards to such a character".
The director of Avvenire concludes that unless these issues are dealt with directly and not through jokes of the type "I am no saint" - as Berlusconi recently claimed - then the country, astounded, will feel by-passed and ignored by its leader.
