2.    Veltroni thinks he does, both out of political realism and perhaps personal creed. In fact Binetti is in charge of drawing up the Party's ethical charter. Which is precisely why many of us have no intention to vote for his party.

3.    See my recent comment on the situation.

4.    "The rise in influence of religion" certainly has nothing to do with the crisis of vocation and the collapse of attendance to church functions. Practicing Catholics are at an all time low in Italy. However, the influence of the Vatican is based on its amazing power to accumulate monetary, mediatic and political capital. That's not religion. It's pizzazz. Any government in Italy is the Vatican's hostage. It's 101 war strategy.