Cardinal Roberto Tucci. (AP File Photo)
Posted on 05/10/2005 9:45:57 AM PDT by NYer
ROME -
A court in Rome on Monday convicted a Vatican cardinal and the head of the city-state's radio station for electromagnetic pollution.
| "... A great victory for those people who have been suffering for years." |
They were given 10-day suspended sentences, which they have appealed.
Cardinal Roberto Tucci. (AP File Photo) |
Cardinal Roberto Tucci, former head of Vatican Radio's management committee, and the Rev. Pasquale Borgomeo, the station's director general, were charged with "dangerous launching of objects," referring to the station's electromagnetic waves.
Residents of the Rome suburb Cessano near the station complained they could hear Vatican Radio broadcasts through their lamps because of electromagnetic disturbances.
"It is a great success and a great victory for those people who have been suffering for years," said Lorenzo Parlati, head of the environmental group Legambiente for the Lazio Region, which was part of the civil suit. It claimed the waves were harming the health of those living nearby.
"A mother whose child died of leukemia shouted out of emotion when the verdict was read out," Parlati said.
The station's program director said he was "stunned" by the ruling from Judge Luisa Martoni.
"We contend that our transmission is in line with accords between Italy and the Vatican," Rev. Federico Lombardi said.
The court acquitted another Vatican Radio official, the head of technical services.
The matter has been to court before. A judge threw out the case in 2002, saying Vatican officials had immunity under a 1929 treaty between the Holy See and Italy that established the Vatican as an independent city-state. But Italy's Supreme Court later ruled the case could proceed.
Can somebody who understands radio technology explain to me what the heck this is about?
Some folks near the Vatican's broadcasting facility hooked up with the envirowhackos, claiming that the radio waves were harming them somehow - apparently someone in a position to prosecute took it seriously. Recommended treatment: more tinfoil.
Seriously, this sounds like a joke.
That's what it sounded like to me, but I was loath to ascribe such petty motives to people. Apparently I am much too generous in my opinions. It's just so absurd! I mean, the lady whose kid died of leukemia obviously thinks the Vatican Radio facility killed her child! How could she get away with such an outrageous slander?
But apparently it's not!
Whatever it will take to shut down the Vatican. The Italian population is shrinking as the Muslims continue to reproduce. The Mosque of Rome has a crescent moon that rises higher than the cross over the Vatican. These folks wishing nothing better than to kick the church out of their country, beginning with its radio transmitter.
I'm sure they really believe it's harmful - it's crap, of course, but people will believe some really surprising crap occasionally.
You've gotten right to the heart of this. RobbyS posted something in connection with the Newfoundland judgment as essentially being the use of lawsuits to eliminate the Church. I think we can expect to see more of this, no matter how frivolous the alleged "matter."
I didn't know that. That is so depressing.
Members of the Muslim community in Italy pray at a Rome mosque 20 January 2005 on the first day of Eid Al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, Islam's most important holiday.
Two years ago, their imam was suspended after he used a Friday sermon to praise Palestinian fighters, and called for jihad - ``Allah, destroy the houses of the enemies of Islam! Allah, help us crush the enemies of Islam! Allah ensure the victory of the nation of Islam!’’
Here's an excellent report on that what's happening in the pope's backyard.
Just as NYer said, secular Italy has been trying to ouster Christianity ever since the Roman Empire (if the Pope had a lira for every Italian secular head that tried to bring down Vatican City). Constantine had to move the capital probably for more than just relocating to a better financial center, but also to avoid all the pagan whining and debauchery. The Vatican will leave Rome eventually, and in leaving Italy, the Church will leave the peninsula to its own sin. I suppose this is the city of seven hills that will get what it wants and deserves. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Italian Catholics and martyrs deserve better than what Italian secularists put the Church through.
NEVER! Over my dead body! I will turn Joan of Arc before I allow any government to overtake Vatican. I will chain myself to the doors of St. Peter's and thousands of Catholics will join me.
"In extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the term of which the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge his people. The End."
Perhaps the end is where it all began.
If (or when) the Eternal City is destroyed, then you can bet that I will be there at the end fighting tooth and nail against the invading hordes.
Point taken. Thank you.
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