“I address Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, whom I hold in high regard: let’s open a discussion on differentiated autonomy within the CEI.” This is what Luca Zaia, President of the Veneto Region, said in an interview with the newspaper La Repubblica.
“I am offering – he continues – our best experts; let them find others who promoted the referendum. I propose an open debate with the members of the Episcopal Conference so they can see if this is truly the Wild West that some want to portray,” Zaia adds in response to a question about the words of the CEI Vice President, Francesco Savino, who in an interview with Repubblica described the law as a Trojan horse to divide Italy in two.
The Veneto governor claims he has “read the statements twice and – he explains – was astounded. I was also personally struck, as an administrator and as a Catholic.”
Regarding concerns about starting the reform without the LEP (Essential Levels of Services), Zaia says, “Just read the documents to understand that autonomy won’t proceed until the LEP are approved.”
“We are ready to speak with the bishops – he adds – but not me, the qualified technicians: top university professors who have studied every aspect of the reform. Let’s do it in a question time style, with questions from the audience. You will see that no one wants to divide the country, and I, as a Catholic – he concludes – certainly do not have the concept of the Wild West in my heart.”
