Dinner between Cardinal Bertone, Berlusconi canceled following newspaper attack

August 31, 2009

A planned dinner between Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was canceled by the Vatican after a newspaper owned by the prime minister’s brother accused the editor of the Italian bishops’ newspaper of having a homosexual affair. The editor, who has publicly criticized the prime minister’s personal behavior, denied the allegation, while the prime minister disassociated himself from the newspaper attack.

 

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Further information:

• Berlusconi allies work to patch up church ties (AP)
• Vatican Slights Berlusconi Over Newspaper Attack (Wall Street Journal)
• Berlusconi paper vs Church editor (ANSA)