Death threat sent to Italian bishop

The head of Italy’s influential bishops conference has received a second envelope containing bullets and a death threat, following comments he made opposing same-sex unions, police said today.

The envelope – with three bullets and the written threat – arrived on Saturday at the Genoa archdiocese of Monsignor Angelo Bagnasco, Genoa police cabinet chief Sebastiano Salvo said.

Bagnasco heads the politically influential Italian Bishops’ Conference, and has been leading a campaign against proposed Italian legislation that would give many legal rights to unmarried couples, including gay ones.

Bagnasco was given bodyguards several weeks ago after graffiti threatening him was scrawled on buildings. On April 27, an envelope containing a bullet arrived at his office.

Salvo said that Saturday’s incident did not require any increase in the archbishop’s protection. “There is no escalation in the danger,” Salvo said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the threats, Salvo said.