I stumbled across this news item during the week, from ANSA.  Strange enough in its own right, but the political sub text caught my eye.

The Rome prosecutor’s office announced that a religious slander case will not proceed against Italian comic Sabina Guzzanti, who said at a rally that Pope Benedict XVI would “go to hell” and be tormented by “queer devils”.

The prosecutor’s office had no choice after the Italian Justice Minister Angelino Alfano decided not to proceed with the charges (my italics). 

I liked Alfano’s justification…

“Despite the fact that it would be possible to proceed with the case, I have decided not to give the authorisation in full knowledge of the frequency and capacity of the Pope’s pardon”

”(Guzzant) took responsibility for what she said”

So his justification for dropping the case is that

• He knows that the Pope will forgive her anyway! 
• She knows she said it (she also said she was “honored” that the charges were first mooted so you have got to question her supposed remorse!)

My favorite part of the whole story?  Guzzant is the daughter of Paolo Guzzanti, a Senator in Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party. 
I wonder whether that relationship played any part in Alfano’s decision?