Ousted editor reportedly back on payroll in legal battle with Italian bishops' newspaper

November 13, 2014

Dino Boffo, who was ousted as editor of the newspaper owned by the Italian bishops’ conference, has won a legal battle against the bishops, the ANSA news service reports.

Boffo was forced to resign as editor of Avvenire in 2009, during an ugly public dispute in which he was accused of sexual improprieties after publishing editorials sharply critical of the Italian government led by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Boffo’s supporters claimed that Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, then the Vatican’s Secretary of State, had colluded with the Berlusconi government to circulate rumors about the journalist—a charge that the cardinal angrily denied.

Boffo later filed suit against the Italian bishops’ conference, arguing that his contract protected him from being dismissed as editor. According to the ANSA report, he has now been placed back on the payroll of the bishops’ newspaper, although he has not returned to work, and he will likely receive payments until reaching retirement age.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Boffo back on CEI payroll but at home (ANSA)
• Angry Vatican statement denies plot against Italian Catholic editor (CWN, 2/9/10)