Cardinal criticises Euro MP over anti-Islam stand: reports
(ROME) - Italy's top prelate Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco has denounced a Euro MP in the anti-immigration Northern League for his anti-Islamic views, press reports said Saturday.
The Bishop of Genoa and president of the Italian episcopal conference voiced his "total disapproval" of Euro MP Mario Borghezio's vow to "defend Christianity against profanation by Islam" made in a church in the northern port on Friday.
The Euro deputy made his call at a rally of League members to protest against a city council plans to hold interfaith prayers in the church, a former hospital of the Knights of Malta in the 13th century.
Accompanied by dozens of people waving the League's flag, Borghezio gained entry to the building by waving his Euro deputy's card. He then swore to "continue the fight of the Knights of the Order of Malta to defend Christianity."
Cardinal Bagnasco condemned Borghezio for making his statement in a church, which he said was "solely a place for prayer and worship," the Corriere della Sera said.
The Northern League scored an unexpected success in general elections in April, taking eight percent of the votes and securing four ministerial posts in the right-wing government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
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