Libertas Leader Declan Ganley in a TV3 interview told the show host Vincent Browne and viewers that Cardinal Bertone head of the Holy See Secretariat of State and the most senior Cardinal in the Vatican had issued a statement stressing the importance of European countries “keeping their own identity”, and in which he refers to Ireland’s resistance to centralisation as “logical”.
The text of a press statement issued by Libertas leader Declan Ganly is reproduced below.
Libertas Leader Declan Ganley has tonight welcomed comments by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, in which the Pope’s chief diplomat stresses the importance of European countries “keeping their own identity”, and refers to Ireland’s resistance to centralisation as “logical”.
Speaking this afternoon to a Czech newspaper, Cardinal Bertone said:
"Individual European countries have their own identity. The European Union prescribes its laws or views to them and they must comply with their traditions and history. Some countries are logically resisting this - for example, Ireland... The Church wants to encourage the states in this."
Commenting, Mr. Ganley said:
“This statement should end the debate about how the church interprets this Treaty. The campaign to resist the centralisation of power in Brussels is described by the Pope’s official spokesperson as “logical”, and the Holy Father’s office has said that the church wants to “encourage” states to take this stand.
I welcome these comments by Cardinal Bertone, and encourage all practising catholics to take them on board before they cast their ballots”
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