For months, a serious journal of the Italian Bishops Conference, the “Avvenire” remained distant from what is the main topic of conversation in Italy: the spicy life of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

But when readers complained, saying the newspaper of the Catholic Church might have a moral obligation to denounce the divorce, relationships with teenage girls, parties with naked women by the pool, the editor of the newspaper began to think about the issue.

Berlusconi sneered repeatedly claims that arose during the Italian summer, saying on one occasion: “I am holy.” He still enjoys widespread popularity and governs practically without facing opposition, thanks to an opposition weak, fragmented and inefficient.

But his popularity, as reflected a research, is in decline, and Mr. Berlusconi appears to be highly concerned about the possibility of suffering further damage, especially, from the moderate Catholic voters.

This week he announced that he will move high stakes litigation for defamation against several media that criticized him, in what both critics and allies fear it is a dangerous tendency to treat the criticism as unfair and possibly illegal.

Even Berlusconi’s friends say he is getting into dangerous ground with regard to the Church, acting in a way that could harm him politically. Despite the decline in attendance of the mass population, the Catholic Church remains the key institution in Italy, and many Italians are concerned to know which candidates have the implicit support from the Vatican. The senior members of the Church generally support candidates from the right, as Berlusconi and his allies.

Judging by the aggressive tone of discussion between the daily newspaper that belongs to Berlusconi against the Church, and the whispers of the authorities on both sides of the mess, the mutual affection is not great right now.

And, frankly, only few people in the world have the power to confront the Catholic Church. Especially in Italy, where the Vatican is omnipresent and the Pope’s voice is undeniable.

Via: NYT.