A judge ruled last week that Cardinal Roberto Tucci, head of Radio Vaticano’s management board, and Father Pasquale Borgomeo, be suspended for 10 days because of their responsibility for the excessively high transmission levels of the radio’s programs.
In 2001 it was discovered that the “electrosmog” transmitted by Radio Vaticano’s towers, located just to the north of Rome, were seven times higher than the maximum levels permitted under Italian law.
It was then subsequently reported that Leukaemia rates among children living near the transmitting towers of Radio Vaticano were six times higher than the average.
The civil case that was brought against the Vatican and its radio programmers charged that the high incidence of Leukaemia among those living near the main transmitting towers is the result of the towers’ excessive transmission.
Upon hearing the guilty verdict, residents and environmental organisations applauded the outcome. Many groups have requested compensation from the radio and the church, but the judge will decide the euro amounts at a later date.
Lawyers representing Radio Vaticano were dismayed at the outcome, claiming that the radio had immediately lowered transmission levels in 2001 in accordance with the new, and stricter, emissions laws. They will be making an appeal.
