As Prodi pointed out in his rebuttal, his position is no different than that of Spain's ex-PM Aznar. Both Foreign Affairs Minister, Fini, and the Minister of Equal Opportunities, Prestigiacomo, agreed with Prodi.  Mastella, who is part of the Prodi coalition, corrected his initial declaration. After all, Prodi does not advocate gay marriages, he simply believes that couples, regardless of their gender make-up, should be recognized by civil law with its rights and responsibilities.

The Osservatore Romano is making a big issue out of it most likely at the behest of Cardinal Ruini. But so what? That's the name of their game. The Catholic Church as an institution has nothing to do with one's personal religious sentiments. I doubt many Catholics really care about most of the Vatican's positions, in this case the argument that civil unions will destroy the family (sic).

What does count is the right-wing media smear which immediately turned into barroom gay-bashing. The Roman rightwing "Il Tempo" did a front full page of Prodi caught in a cute pose with the title "Prodi can't shake off his little vice" where "vizietto" referred to the popular play and film "Cages aux foules." It's all very much in tune with the snide remark of AN Deputy Mirko Tremaglia last year that the European parliament is just a bunch of fags (for having refused the useful idiot Rocco Buttiglione). Sometimes the right just has to let it all hang out, perhaps to reassure themselves that it's still there.

 I think it will just backfire. Other than the Lega machos and some supposedly religious bigots with far too much press and presence in parliament, no Italian really gives a flying fuck about another person's sexuality. Which is one of the reasons that Niki Vendola won.

A sidebar on Niki. When Niki won his upset victory in the primaries, the left immediately blocked all the other primaries in the making. Niki was the last thing the left coalition party bosses wanted. They did not expect him to win nor foresaw his decisive bid for governorship. According to rightwing sources, Niki won the primaries because of organized cross-party voting. The right also thought he would be easier to beat. Which does give an idea how much both coalitions are in touch with Italian reality.

But this is all a tempest in a fishbowl. The real scandal is Berlusconi's attempt to change electoral law just before the elections to advantage himself or far worse, leave Italy ungovernable for the next legislation. There's a parliamentary putsch in act. Après moi, le deluge.