” “"The Bishops and the Church must express, in the intelligent respect of everyone’s responsibilities, their beliefs in an accurate and timely manner, as demanded by the circumstances, for everyone’s good". It was said by card. Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa and president of the Italian Bishops Conference. In his long, far-ranging end-of-year speech, the archbishop spoke of his first months as president of the Italian Bishops Conference, "marked he said by the turbulences that everyone knows of": these are "events that are the fruit of thoughts which have never been thought, but which have had wide, long-lasting repercussions all over Italy and beyond". Then, the cardinal thanked all those who expressed their sympathy, "encouraging him in defending and promoting the irreplaceable and unparalleled value of the family based on marriage, the spring of life, the school of humanity and faith". About these subjects added the archbishop , "the Church cannot keep silent". "This is about not betraying the men who see the Church and its Magisterium as a point of reference, because it does not speak out of its own interest but for everyone’s good". Again, today, the Church recalls, "sometimes going against the stream the fundamental values of man’s humanity". "On very many questions added Bagnasco , sensible, factual mediations can and must be found", but there are "fundamental values" which "admit of no compromise". ” “
