Mastella: “Forgiveness is a Catholic duty, but social hatred alters democracy” Benevento, 17th January 2024 – “Can you forgive someone who has hurt you so much and has shown you so much hatred? This is the question I asked myself before reading the words that the woman, who became famous during the dramatic phase of Covid for her social media videos, wrote and spoke yesterday in a criminal court in Benevento. This woman had gained notoriety, even at a national level, precisely for her videos in which she committed several crimes. I read her heartfelt public request for forgiveness, in which she also stated that she fully understood that she had engaged in unjust and reprehensible behavior. I want to believe in her repentance, I want to trust a young woman, a mother, who has claimed to have been incited by others and to have gravely lost her sanity and reason in a moment of desperation. I want to believe in her commitment to never repeat such behavior. I appreciate her dignity in asking for forgiveness and, as a Catholic, I forgive her. My religious beliefs almost require it of me,” says the Mayor of Benevento, Clemente Mastella. “But we must be careful. Slander, constant bitterness, lies presented as fake truths, especially during an election campaign, risk distorting the democratic landscape. And this happened to me when my opponents cynically used it, giving it a political dignity and subjectivity. I have instructed my lawyers to withdraw the lawsuits against her. I sincerely wish her a peaceful and happy life with her family. I take this opportunity to thank the Police Headquarters and the Public Prosecutor’s Office for their intense work regarding this and other delicate events that occurred during the dramatic phase of the pandemic. I extend a heartfelt invitation to all those who feed on hatred and other reprehensible feelings, not a few among my political opponents and fake friends, to repent in order to live a much more peaceful and happy life,” concludes Mayor Mastella.
