THE VATICAN: ‘CONCERN’ ON ITALY SCANDAL

VATICAN TO BERLUSCONI:
POLITICIANS MUST BE MORAL

www.nytimes.com - The Vatican is watching the sex scandal engulfing the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, “with concern,” its secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said Thursday, the news agency ANSA reported. The cardinal’s remarks are a sign of Mr. Berlusconi’s growing political weakness a week after prosecutors began investigating whether he compensated “a significant number” of women, including a minor, for sex. The prime minister denies all wrongdoing. The Vatican on Thursday finally weighed in on the latest sex scandal shaking the government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, saying Italian politicians must show “robust morality.” Cardinal Bertone said the Roman Catholic Church urged greater “morality” and “legality” in public life, especially from those holding public office. Bertone’s comments indicated that the latest scandal was too much. His remarks were seen as lending support to centrist politicians who seek to oust Mr. Berlusconi.

In a television interview on Wednesday, the minor, Karima el-Mahroug, denied that she had sex with Mr. Berlusconi or asked for money in exchange for her silence, as wiretapped phone conversations published in the Italian news media this week suggested. Mr. Berlusconi has vigorously denied having sex with Ms. El Mahroug or seeking to cover up his alleged relations with her. He has also lashed out at Italy’s judiciary, accusing prosecutors of violating Italy’s constitution in a campaign to persecute him.


Cardinal Bertone said “The Church pushes and invites everyone, above all those who hold public responsibility in any administrative, political and judicial area, to be committed to a more robust morality, a sense of justice and lawfulness.” Responding to these accusations, the Italian prime minister says he has nothing to be ashamed of, and that he has just been having fun in his “bunga bunga”. However, the investigating allegations of wrongdoing, prostitution and sex with an under age dancer, can be read like a “bacchanalia”. Such kind of excesses and display of lust and money made by some leaders is not a good example and confuse ordinary people.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

The Lord can see our many previous lives; therefore He may allow one to enjoy or suffer in this life not only as a result of one’s present activities, but also as a result of one’s previous activities. For example, by working very hard a man may accumulate a fortune. If such a newly rich man then gives up his work and takes to a degenerate life, his fortune does not immediately disappear. On the other hand, one who is destined to become rich may now be working very hard, with discipline and austerity, and yet be without spending money. So a superficial observer might well be confused upon seeing the moral, hard-working man without funds and the degenerate, lazy man in possession of riches. ... Although a bull is extremely powerful, he is easily controlled by a slight tug on a rope strung through his pierced nose. Similarly, even the most powerful politicians, scholars, demigods, etc., may immediately be put into an unbearable situation by the omnipotent Personality of Godhead.

Purports to the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam :
Canto 11: “General History”
Chapter 6: “The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa”, Verse 14.
By the humble servants of HDG A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
New Gokula - Sao Paulo, Brazil, March, 1982.
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase Network - http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/11/en