(AKI) - The Vatican has distanced itself from claims by a weekly Catholic magazine that Italy could face 'a return to fascism', under the leadership of Silvio Berlusconi. "Famiglia Cristiana (the magazine), is an important publication about the Italian Catholic reality, but it is not qualified to speak on behalf of the Holy See, nor the Italian Bishops Conference," Father Federico Lombardi, chief of the Vatican press office told Adnkronos.The row erupted when the magazine criticised the Italian government for what it called a 'fake security emergency' after the government declared a nationwide state of emergency over the arrival of immigrants in July. Centre-right politicians later criticised the publication for being "Catho-Communist". The critique was followed by an editorial by author Beppe Del Colle who said he hoped that a 'suspicion that a new Fascism is being born was not true'.
Del Colle was citing a report by French religious organisation 'Esprit' in which it canvassed a potential return to authoritarian rule in Italy following the government's deployment of 3,000 troops in major cities to deter crime. The editorial also discussed the fingerprinting of Roma Gypsies, harsher penalties for illegal immigrants and swifter deportation procedures, following an election pledge by the new government to stop illegal immigration.
The claims by Del Colle stirred up emotions among Italian politicians across the political spectrum. Most centre-right politicians have attacked the publication, while some centre-left politicians support what was said by Del Colle. However, the director of the monthly Muslim magazine 'Famiglia Musulmana' Nizar Ramadan, was more cautious in its critique of the Berlusconi government, saying that "100 days are not enough to judge a government that will last for five years. It is true that immigration and security are not the priority for a country that has a more pressing economic problem, and (low) salaries. But in these three months, the Berlusconi government has not only cracked down on Roma (Gypsies) and illegal immigrants, it has also solved real emergencies such as the refuse crisis in Naples."
The 3,000-strong force of Italian soldiers is drawn from the Italian army, navy and air force and is working with police and paramilitary police. It is not the first time that troops have been deployed in Italian cities. In 1992 soldiers were stationed on the streets of Sicily after the Mafia killed two judges in bomb attacks. Soldiers in 1994 also patrolled the border with Slovenia in the north east to tackle illegal immigration. In 1995 the army was sent to Naples to tackle the Camorra or local Mafia.