Vatican official caught in corruption and gay prostitution ring scandal

[removeduser_487563287433]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...n-scandal.html

Glee.

A Gentleman of His Holiness has been charged of corruption involving public works projects and being part of a gay prostitution ring.

Yay for The Catholic Church.

[Visna]

Moral standards are good. Double moral standards must therefore be twice as good.

[mrcrusty]

Hope he rots.

[God-Emperor of Mankind]

Really, you can't say anything else

[Darth Red]

Just so we are clear:

Balducci is also a member of an elite group called "Gentlemen of His Holiness" – ushers who are called to serve in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace on major occasions such as when the pope receives heads of state or presides at big events.

A Vatican source said Balducci, who is still in jail, has been dismissed from the elite group of ushers and that his name would not appear in the next edition of the Vatican's directory.

"He obviously can't come back here after being accused of these things," the source told Reuters.

Only because I thought he was a ranking member of the church. He isn't. He probably got that honorary title from his contribution to the Church.

The Church did the right thing by dimissing him of his title and won't be alowed back. I don't see how the 'Catholic Church' is involved?

[removeduser_487563287433]

If their attitude to other criminals in the Catholic Church is anything to go by I would imagine they were already fully aware that this man was a pimp and an embezzler of public works.

Speculation, obviously. But with lots of precendent.

[Darth Red]

Here is something more substaintial that I was refering to if one wishes to investigate wrongdoing within the Catholic Church. This is what I was talking about with respect to the last Papal election, who they elected, who was alowed to vote and why they would want to vote the way they did...perhaps job security or protection from prosecution. I don't know, I can't say yet. It's an awful indictment and one I would take seriously and not throw accusations around lightly, however this is where I would start.

Pope’s brother says he would testify in abuse case

ROME — The brother of Pope Benedict XVI has told a newspaper he is willing to testify in the sex scandal rocking Germany’s Catholic Church, even though he says he knows nothing about the alleged abuse of boys in a choir he later led.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Rev. Georg Ratzinger, in an interview published Sunday, also was quoted as saying by the Rome daily La Repubblica that there was "discipline and rigor" but no terror during his 30 years as head of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir in Germany.

The Regensburg Diocese said last week that a former singer came forward with allegations of sexual abuse in the early 1960s. The German newsweekly Der Spiegel has reported that therapists in the region are treating several alleged victims from the choir.

Ratzinger led the choir from 1964 till 1994.

The diocese has said it is hiring a lawyer to help it carry out a "systemic" clarification of abuse allegations.

A man who lived in the choir-linked boarding school until 1967 has contended that "a sophisticated system of sadistic punishments in connection with sexual lust" had been installed there. Der Spiegel quoted the man, Franz Wittenbrink, as saying it would be inexplicable that the pope’s brother didn’t know anything about it.

But Ratzinger says he knew nothing about any alleged abuse.

If German justice officials "ask me to give testimony, obviously I’d be very ready to do so, but I am not able to provide any information on any deed that could be punished, because I don’t have any, I never knew anything about it," the former choir leader told La Repubblica.

"We’re talking about another generation, of another generation than that of my years, and respect to the generation that leads the foundation and chorus now," the pope’s brother told the paper.

Asked why cases of alleged abuse were "covered by silence" for so long, Ratzinger replied: "’I insist, I wasn’t around in that situation, I wasn’t at the choir when the cases they’re talking about happened."
"I hope my chorus isn’t damaged by this situation, but it’s in my interest that light is shed on it," he added.

Asked by La Repubblica about victims’ claims of a "climate of terror at the choir," Ratzinger was quoted as saying: "In my years, thus after those deeds, there was a climate of discipline and rigor, that was obvious, too — we were aiming for a high musical, artistic level."

He said there was a "a climate of human comprehension, almost like a family."

The pope’s brother also wondered what was behind the recent allegations.

"I want to note that I sense a certain animosity toward the church" behind the scandal, Ratzinger was quoted as saying.

The Vatican said Saturday it backed the diocese’s efforts to look into the "painful question in a decisive and open way."

Benedict has made no public comment on the choir scandal in his homeland, where the church has been jolted by abuse allegations from more than 170 former students who studied at some of the country’s most prominent Catholic schools.

Ratzinger was asked by another Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera, which interviewed him in his Regensburg home, if he had spoken to his brother, the pope, about the abuse allegations.

"Not about this. It’s the press that wants to know about these things," Ratzinger was quoted as replying

I belive there was a Cardinal from Germany (according to Hithchens from Intelligence2) that had a vote and was involved in debate for the last election along with Bernard Law of Massachusetts infamy. I don't know much about the German but I am quite fammiliar with Bernard Law. He is someone who has a vast knowlage of the law and is actively involved in commenting on legal matters. It would seem a conflict of interest if he is wanted in Massachusetts and is being granted assylum within the Vatican and is allowed to voice his opinion on legal matters.

[Gromovnik]

So he wasn't an official after all?

[Darth Red]

If their attitude to other criminals in the Catholic Church is anything to go by I would imagine they were already fully aware that this man was a pimp and an embezzler of public works.

Speculation, obviously. But with lots of precendent.

Ok I see. I would hate to think they did have knowlage of this, but I wouldn't disagree with your speculation. I play connet the dots as well, I can see the bigger picture. I would start an argument around the last Papal election, who was alowed a vote and why enablers of child molestation were allowed to vote for the holyest position within the Catholic Church. That to me, as a Catholic, is pornographic, and I wonder if there is any kind of 'vote of no confidence' or impeachment in cannon law that a group of Cardinals can explore...

This particular guy in the article isn't a good foundation to start a 'Catholic Church corruption' thread. See what I am getting at?

So he wasn't an official after all?

Not really, it's a ceremonial title with no little power or authority. He wasn't ordained nor a ranking member.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Uh, no, he was.

[Gromovnik]

Uh, no, he was.

What kind of official was he?

[MaximiIian]

Uh, no, he was.

He's an personal attendant, specifically an usher; which was mentioned in the article. That's hardly a "Vatican official". About as much as the White House janitor is a "Washington insider".

[Red_legged_devils]

What next Farret? I can see it now EVILLL Jesuit vatican assassins from marrs, The pope is a secert Reptileman I'm Guessing farret is a dan brown fan boi, and the evil catholic illuminati is out to stop the progress of humanity and shut down all the universities and ban maps, bibles and funnel cakes

[removeduser_487563287433]

What next Farret? I can see it now EVILLL Jesuit vatican assassins from marrs, The pope is a secert Reptileman I'm Guessing farret is a dan brown fan boi, and the evil catholic illuminati is out to stop the progress of humanity and shut down all the universities and ban maps, bibles and funnel cakes

If there is a case of Vatican assassins from Mars then I will post that. Unfortunately for you there has only been Vatican embezzling gay pimps this week. Don't be angry, I don't make the news. No point in shooting the messenger.

[Red_legged_devils]

If there is a case of Vatican assassins from Mars then I will post that. Unfortunately for you there has only been Vatican embezzling gay pimps this week. Don't be angry, I don't make the news. No point in shooting the messenger.

I think your a secert vatican infiltrator

[Phier]

Its always amusing when you can guess a thread author just buy seeing the word 'Vatican' in the forum column. Ferrets your record, it is broken, you don't like the Catholic church we get it.

Being you are too young to have used a record let me explain. Records which were badly scratched would 'skip' playing the same sound over and over and over again. This is your sound.

Among four people arrested last month in the corruption probe was Angelo Balducci, an engineer who is a board member of Italy's public works department and a construction consultant to the Vatican.

So an engineer and usher is the big scandal? Ugh. Ferrets you can do better in your hate.

[removeduser_487563287433]

So an engineer and usher is the big scandal? Ugh. Ferrets you can do better in your hate.

I can only post the scandals that the Catholic Church has caused today. I'm sure a child walking like Clint Eastwood will appear within the week, don't worry.

[removeduser_487563287433]

A consultant and Gentleman To His Holiness. Just so I know, will I be having to read the entire thing to you?

[Gromovnik]

Well you might, because I don't think we're reading the same thing. One guy is an usher and a choir member, and another also a ceremonial usher but also a construction consultant. They're not Vatican officials.

[removeduser_487563287433]

If that is how you intend to think your way out of another scandal of hypocrisy within the Catholic Church then I have no intention of trying to convince you to see some sense. Very odd the broadsheets are covering the story two individual citizens in an irrelevant country!