what i reported in the title is my translation of two different statements.
one from card. bertone today:
this was unprecedented, not even in the old communist regimes...it was a kidnap, a very serious and inconceivable fact...they (the bishops)were held and kept with nothing to eat or drink (for 9 hours, during interrogations)('Non ci sono precedenti, neanche nei regimi comunisti di antica esperienza'...E' stato "un sequestro, un fatto inaudito e grave", ha detto Bertone, a proposito dei vescovi belgi trattenuti per 9 ore dagli inquirenti. "Sono stati senza mangiare e senza bere", ha denunciato.)
source, ansa:
http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/politica/2010/06/26/visualizza_new.html_1846617447.html"Bishops holding a meeting there were barred from leaving the premises for several hours and had their mobile phones confiscated, said Church officials."
bbc,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10417102.stmbut the osservatore romano, the official vatican paper, reports today what follows (my translation):
everybody was interrogated, members among the bishops and personnel as well. it was not a pleasant experience, but everything went on in a correct way. bishops have always stated to be trustful of justice...(my bold)
("Tutti sono stati interrogati, sia i membri della Conferenza Episcopale, sia i membri del personale. Non è stata un'esperienza piacevole, ma tutto si è svolto in modo corretto. I vescovi hanno sempre detto di avere fiducia nella giustizia...")
source:
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/or/or_quo/text.html#2so now, i would like the vatican to be consistent in both official and public statements in such a moment of its history.
i found bertone's words just inflammatory, and though a reaction was expected - i would expect more carefulness from such an eminent figure.