ROME – Conflict is churning both inside Italy and across Europe over a new plan by the Italian government to introduce pro-life consulters to publicly funded family planning clinics that issue the certificates women need to undergo an abortion.
Despite the controversy, so far the Italian bishops’ conference, known by its acronym of CEI, as well as most individual prelates, largely have remained silent, taking no position on the proposed measure, reportsCrux.
A recent piece in the Italian newspaper Quotidiano Nazionale suggested that the bishops’ reticence may be related to tensions over the past decade between some of the country’s leading pro-life groups and the leadership of CEI, which is chosen by Pope Francis.
