Politicians have been focusing on issues such as fertility rights and abortion, but critics are alarmed that Italy's liberal Catholic values are under threat.

We asked for your comments on our programme and the issues that it raised. A selection of your comments are below. This debate is now closed.

I am currently a molecular biology student in Vancouver. This summer, I went back to Italy to see my parents, and I had the honour of being talked about like a criminal. In Italy now, scientists who do stem cell research "despise life" and "kill babies", according to the current government and the church. Do not tell me the church has no political influence. When is our country going to wake up?
Giovanna Di Sauro, Canada

Power certainly corrupts. Italy needs a clean new government. Italy needs a safe pair of hands at the helm not a master at theatricals. There lies the difference between the two protagonists.
Pancha Chandra, Brussels, Belgium

If the politicians have the right to express their political ideologies, why not the church? It would be very irresponsible for the church to let life be reduced to something that can be terminated whenever one wishes.
Francis Chishimba, Rome

Sadly, the biggest ethical question in Italian politics is still the level of corruption affecting the country Monica, Italy

Your programme highlights some crucial issues about the interference of the Catholic Church in Italian politics. However, less than a week from the vote, the focus is entirely on the economy and reciprocal accusations. Even proposals for gay unions have been forgotten. Sadly, the biggest ethical question in Italian politics is still the level of corruption affecting the country.
Monica, Italy

If you abort a baby at five months because someone told you there is an high chance the foetus is infected and born with a serious deformity it's right? At five months a foetus is formed! And if after abortion you discover that your son was normal? More and more gynaecologists in Italy are becoming conscientious objectors to abortion because they don't want to be butchers.
Alberto, Italy

I am 23 and I can definitely say that the church is not interfering in Italian politics. It is just seeing a lack of respect for human life all around the world: poverty, starvation, cloning, and so on.

Rome's church has the right to give some comments about the way we treat life.
Andrea Vota, Italy

Where I live in northern Italy the influence of the Catholic Church is not so strong but I feel it's growing. The church's strength is the increasing activism of the various ecclesiastical movements.

Nevertheless, I find so strange that a woman must go to Spain to carry out a therapeutic abortion.

The Italian Catholic Church is funded by the state and every day the Italian State television (RAI) broadcasts every single breath of the Pope.
Fabio, Italy

This is a typical BBC journalistic report which begins with the assumption that the liberal position on abortion, homosexuality and divorce is the only one that a rational, intelligent person could accept.

The traditional Catholic position on these issues is rational and sensible Sean Loughlin, Cardiff

It is therefore completely unbalanced and fails to provide the alternative position which is that the traditional Catholic position on these issues is as rational and sensible.

The journalist may not agree with the Catholic view but in conscience he or she should present both sides of the case in an unbiased way.
Sean Loughlin, Cardiff

I hope Italians see the light and push this government out. We are going backwards instead of going forward here in Italy, Berlusconi is doing anything to cling to power.

The state has to protect the rights of all its citizens not only the Catholics.

The church should stay out of Italian affairs, it has its own opinions and values is respected, but it should not interfere with the life of people who think differently!
Tiziana, Italy

It's time for Italy to enter the 21st Century, and question its policies on such issues as homosexuality and women's rights.
Jethro Singer, US

How on earth does someone believe the words of Berlusconi? What is this rubbish about restricting abortion? How does that really decrease human suffering? I was thinking of moving to Italy, but I might just reconsider if most Italians believe this or in Berlusconi.
Ana, US

Although you give space to both sides of the Italian abortion debate, the way you characterise both sides is not objective.

You give the impression that pro-lifers are nothing but dogmatic, cold and uncompassionate Peter, US

Many pro-lifers would be more open to pro-choicers if the media were more objective in its attitude to both sides.

By the way you tell the very painful story of the lady in your article, you give the impression that pro-lifers are nothing but dogmatic, cold and uncompassionate so-and-so's.

The truth is nobody wants death and nobody wants their freedom unjustly curtailed.

The media could help cool the polarization between both sides and draw them together towards a more civil and responsible dialogue aimed at finding a solution. Why not help us do that?
Peter, US

What more can I say about this awful centre-right government? Now, it's incredible, but it is also trying to push religious issues to cover its complete failure in economics, culture and social services.

And most centre-right politicians are far from being the good Catholic guys. These hypocrites are just preaching for their own survival, not for God! I hope they will go away before they can do any further damage.
Ivan, Italy

How refreshing it was to hear this programme, especially the uplifting interview with the young priest on location in Naples!

We are constantly exposed to horrid stories of human suffering which is morally justified, but does need to be balanced by positive thinking as offered by this young man who wishes to break the vicious circle of poverty and drugs in the backstreets of Naples.

Please make some more programmes of this kind about places and regions in France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, and Austria, surely there is a lot to learn from them too!
Vesna Shehovich, UK

Hmmm... None of the above comments really says what is happening here and which is the feeling of the common citizen. The church is not really interfering. It just asserts that "Life is sacred" (as usual)... isn't it? The government issued a law on abortion anyway, and it's currently applied and accepted, as it must be. A woman doesn't need to go to Spain to carry out a therapeutic abortion, if indeed it's therapeutic. Please, be serious.
Daniele, Italy

The comments we publish are not necessarily the views of the BBC but will reflect the balance of views we have received. It is helpful if contributors state if they work for any organisation relevant to an issue discussed. Readers should form their own views on whether messages published represent undeclared interests, or views prompted by a common source.