The Catholic Church's Vatileaks scandal: A guide

The Week ^ | July 27, 2012

[Alex Murphy]

What is the scandal about?
A steady stream of leaked documents since the beginning of the year has revealed the Holy See to be an unholy nest of conspiracies, backstabbing, and ambition. "Vatileaks," as the scandal has been dubbed, has smashed the Vatican's code of silence to reveal a long-standing tradition of bitter rivalries and corruption. The leaks point to at least three shadowy, interlocking plots: an anonymous campaign to undermine Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state and Pope Benedict XVI's top deputy; a struggle over the future of the Vatican bank; and an effort by Italian cardinals to gain more influence over the choice of Benedict's successor. "This is a power struggle," said Notre Dame theology professor Lawrence Cunningham. "People are leaking information to the press to discredit one person or another."

Who is doing the leaking?
The sole official suspect is the pope's butler, Paolo Gabriele, 46, who was arrested in May after he was found with stolen papal documents; held for months in a small cell at the Vatican, he was granted house arrest last week. His lawyer insists Gabriele acted alone, but the leaks have continued since his detention. The real culprits are suspected to be disgruntled prelates inside the Vatican bureaucracy, or Curia, who view Bertone as an obstacle to church reform. The 77-year-old cardinal, a longtime ally of the current pope, has consolidated his power by promoting former associates from his native region of Piedmont to influential posts; they now include the governor of the Vatican City State, the head of the Vatican treasury, and the Holy See's top bank regulator. There are growing rumors that the health of the 85-year-old Benedict is failing, feeding suspicion that Bertone's ultimate goal is to gain control over the next papal conclave — the meeting of the College of Cardinals that selects the pope.

What role does money play?
Charges of financial impropriety figure prominently in the scandal. Though Catholic priests take a vow of poverty, the Vatican presides over a closely held $6 billion empire, including the troubled Vatican bank, known as the Institute for Works of Religion, or IOR. Some of the first leaks early this year were confidential letters from an archbishop to Pope Benedict warning of "corruption and abuse of power" in Vatican finances, including millions of dollars in padded contracts. Bertone ordered the archbishop silenced and removed from his post, but the day after the pope's butler was arrested, the IOR's president — appointed in 2009 to clean it up after decades of allegations of money-laundering and infiltration by the Mafia and Italian Freemasons — was summarily fired amid charges of negligence. The bank's latest efforts at transparency have so far failed to meet the expectations of European banking officials, who last month gave it failing marks in seven critical areas, including measures to combat the financing of terrorism.

How has the Vatican reacted?
Angrily and defensively. Critics say the Holy See has been far more vigorous in investigating the leaks than the patterns of corruption and influence-peddling they allege. Bertone accused journalists of "pretending to be Dan Brown," author of The Da Vinci Code, and decried "a will to create division that comes from the devil." But he also hired Fox News' Rome correspondent, Greg Burke, as a "senior communications adviser" to handle damage control.

What damage has been done?
The Vatican has been left looking like a den of snakes. One leaked memo charged the ousted Vatican bank president with "psychopathological dysfunction"; other documents allege that Bertone conspired to force the editor of a Catholic newspaper to resign by falsely accusing him of a homosexual affair. Among the tawdry financial misdeeds detailed was the overpayment of $350,000 for a Nativity crèche. The Italian media also revealed that a mafioso was buried in a basilica among popes and cardinals after his widow made a substantial donation to the church. There were even details of Bertone's unseemly friendship with disgraced former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Has the pope's reputation been harmed?
The revelations have made it clear that Benedict, who was once expected to bring German efficiency to his role, is not actively managing the Vatican. "He's a solitary scholar and he's not interested in the bureaucracy," said Chester Gillis, a theology professor at Georgetown University. Critics say Benedict has been ill served by Bertone, whom they blame for the pope's 2006 speech suggesting Islam is inherently violent, and for lifting the excommunication of a renegade bishop who denies the Holocaust. The Vatileaks scandal — coming on the heels of the sex-abuse scandal, which many critics say Benedict handled defensively and poorly — is further evidence of "a tin-ear papacy," said Christopher Bellitto, a church historian at Kean University. "This all seems to be a power game that matters only to the power players. It seems to be a church hierarchy further distancing itself from the people in the pews."

A history of secrets
The Vatileaks scandal is just the latest chapter in a long history of Vatican intrigue. In 1958, Pope Pius XII's doctor snapped pictures of the prelate on his deathbed and tried to sell them to gossip magazines; in 1982, Roberto Calvi, known as "God's Banker" for his close ties to the Vatican, was found hanging from London's Blackfriars Bridge, a murder that remains unsolved. But even those lurid episodes pale before the transgressions of Renaissance popes, who bribed their way into office, kept mistresses, and appointed relatives to high church positions. Pope Sixtus IV built the Sistine Chapel, but appointed six of his nephews cardinals. One of them, Julius II, patron to Michelangelo and Raphael, raised a fortune by selling indulgences — or exemptions from eternal punishment for sinners. The practice so shocked Martin Luther that he broke with Rome and launched the Protestant Reformation.

[Alex Murphy]

The leaks point to at least three shadowy, interlocking plots: an anonymous campaign to undermine Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state and Pope Benedict XVI's top deputy; a struggle over the future of the Vatican bank; and an effort by Italian cardinals to gain more influence over the choice of Benedict's successor....

....One leaked memo charged the ousted Vatican bank president with "psychopathological dysfunction"; other documents allege that Bertone conspired to force the editor of a Catholic newspaper to resign by falsely accusing him of a homosexual affair. Among the tawdry financial misdeeds detailed was the overpayment of $350,000 for a Nativity crèche. The Italian media also revealed that a mafioso was buried in a basilica among popes and cardinals after his widow made a substantial donation to the church. There were even details of Bertone's unseemly friendship with disgraced former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.... The revelations have made it clear that Benedict, who was once expected to bring German efficiency to his role, is not actively managing the Vatican....

....The Vatileaks scandal is just the latest chapter in a long history of Vatican intrigue. In 1958, Pope Pius XII's doctor snapped pictures of the prelate on his deathbed and tried to sell them to gossip magazines; in 1982, Roberto Calvi, known as "God's Banker" for his close ties to the Vatican, was found hanging from London's Blackfriars Bridge, a murder that remains unsolved. But even those lurid episodes pale before the transgressions of Renaissance popes, who bribed their way into office, kept mistresses, and appointed relatives to high church positions. Pope Sixtus IV built the Sistine Chapel, but appointed six of his nephews cardinals. One of them, Julius II, patron to Michelangelo and Raphael, raised a fortune by selling indulgences — or exemptions from eternal punishment for sinners. The practice so shocked Martin Luther that he broke with Rome and launched the Protestant Reformation.

[CWW]

“You are Peter, and on this rock I shall build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus Christ 33 AD

[frogjerk]

“You are Peter, and on this rock I shall build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus Christ 33 AD

AMEN!

[RitaOK]

The Anti Christ spirit has been alive and well, and rebellious, since Lucifer in Heaven, along with his band of like minded merry makers, leaving the Godhead forever to form their own power and nefarious interpretations cast out by I AM from Heaven, free to a point to tempt man to do the same.

Then along came Judas, again breaking from the inside, betraying God in Christ Jesus, for silver.

Power and silver.

This proximity to God in His Church, where He is found in form and substance, is exactly where Satan will always want to stir, as his power is increased. The Catholic Church must be slandered and mortally wounded by her enemies on the ground and in the air. The Church shall be greatly wounded. She shall not be mortally wounded, but a remnant refined as silver.

[Natural Law]

"This proximity to God in His Church, where He is found in form and substance, is exactly where Satan will always want to stir, as his power is increased."

From the 12 that Jesus chose he was doubted, denied and betrayed, yet there are some that are both incredulous and delighted when it is found that His Church is still comprised of flawed human beings. Pray for them.

Peace be to you

[RitaOK]

Thank you, dear friend of the Holy Eucharist, Christ Jesus Himself, in perfect form and substance, beloved Real Presence. Thanksgiving forever and all praise and glory to our God, Emanuel, with us.

And Peace be with you on this glorious day.

[johngrace]

Saint John the Apostle in the Holy Scriptures gave us how to test to see if a false Prophet exists.

Here it is :

1 John 4

On Denying the Incarnation

4 Dear friends, Do Believe Every Spirit, but Test the Spirits to see Whether they are From God, because many False prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can RECOGNIZE the Spirit of God: Every spirit that ACKNOWLEDGES that Jesus Christ has come IN the FLESH(HUMAN) is from God, 3 but every spirit that DOES NOT acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

The Church does 1JOHN 4:2 as PROOF that CHRIST as Single Divinity became man through a human Mother every time We recite the NICENE CREED on Every Sunday Mass service.

And private prayers in the Rosary(Apostles Creed ) and especially Magnified in the Divine Mercy Chaplet sent by Christ for the End Times as told by Sister Faustina.

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Here is the Sunday Confession demand by the Holy Spirit as Proof :

In the Fall of 2011 the Pope historically changed the Confession to the personal pronoun of I instead of the We. This fulfilled the specified and enhanced1John 4 requirement for all then it did before. See The beginning of my profile on 1John4 importance about the woman who could not declare it.

I believe in one God the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through Him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

He came down from heaven.

(at the following words, up to and including “and became man”, all bow)

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,< and became man.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

His kingdom will have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets;

And in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen

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If you can recite and believe in a single Divinity became man which is Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord you have the Holy Spirit in You. This is no matter what church as long as you fill this requirement ( 1John4). Especially If you believe this in the personal pronoun since being a Catholic Christian by confessing every Sunday Mass the Nicene Creed you always had the Holy Spirit. If you left the Catholic church and went to another 1John4 type church you did not get The Holy Spirit from that Church first in your Life. You had it from the beginning in the Catholic Mass confession of Faith.

This is still intact in our Church for two thousand years.

Let us never forget this standard test by St John the Apostle who Christ Appointed. ............1John4: 2 "This is how you can RECOGNIZE the Spirit of God: Every spirit that ACKNOWLEDGES that Jesus Christ has come IN the FLESH(HUMAN) is from God, 3 but every spirit that DOES NOT acknowledge Jesus is not from God"

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in...Read More[Read More]

2 John Chapter 1 7 For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist...Read More[Read More]

Romans Chapter 10

9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:..Read More[Read More]

10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation...Read More

2 Corinthians Chapter 9

13 seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all;..Read More[Read More]

Philippians Chapter 2

11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the...Read More[Read More]

1 Timothy Chapter 6

12 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses...Read More[Read More]

13 I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession;..Read More[Read More]

Hebrews Chapter 3

1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, even Jesus;..Read More[Read More

Hebrews Chapter 4

14 Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession...Read More[Read More]

Hebrews Chapter 10

23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised:..Read More[Read More]

[Natural Law]

"I believe..."

Amen. I believe is the translated "Credo" which has an enhanced meaning beyond believe. It also means "I trust". It makes this an exercise in Faith, not just a profession of belief.

Peace be with you.

[johngrace]

I have seen it in person. Here is why 1john4 is important from my profile:

Now a true example of 1John4 in action.

I have told this true experience before but this should never be taken lightly. My friends wife is into tarot reading. On the way to helping him move from an upstate rental house she was playing with the tarot cards. I prayed before hand about going because I knowing of her " new age" practices. While she was in the back of the car she decides to read me. My eyes are turned up. I declare do not read me. Please! She decides no I am already doing it. Well! I plead the blood of Christ over her. " I cover the Blood of Christ to make it null and void. " I did it loud but firm.

As I am doing this a car is out of control from the ramp on the Ny state Thruway coming right towards us. It goes on the grass then comes toward us. I am calm because of my prayers that morning. The Holy Spirit has me boldly speaking the blood of Christ over the car. It straightens out into the lane finally after swerving.

My friend’s wife is also into spellcasting. So later under the Holy Spirit 's leading I had to confront her at the house.

He thought it was harmless until I told him she can not repeat the Apostle’s Creed. I challenged her and she could not repeat it. She could not say the long form nicene creed or just directly that Divinity became man1 john4. She says there are many Gods like from an unseen force. She had contortions.

He flipped his wig. I gave him a exorcism St benedict cloth. She falls down when he takes it out of his wallet. I am not kidding. We are definitely leading and racing to the end.

Just remember we are in some weird unholy times. Pray more and more for others and guidence. Beware. Do deep beautiful heart felt contrition prayers before you even step out the door. I really believe I would of been dead on the Ny state thruway without God's daily Guidance.

Praise Jesus and Hail Mary as the Angel declared!!

[johngrace]

Amen!

[Salvation]

The One true Church, and how to recognize it.

Use this guideline as a measure...

*It was founded by Jesus Christ Himself in Mt 16:18.
*It would be built on Simon Peter, Mt 16:18.
*It would be defended by GOD Himself, Mt 16:18-19.
*It would have authority given by Jesus Christ, Mt 16:19,18:17-18.
*It would be guided by the Holy Spirit who will dwell within it, Jn 14:15-17, Act 15:28,16:6.
*It would be one and undivided, Mk 3:24-25.
*It would have one fold and one shepherd, Jn 10:16.
*It would have Priests, Bishops, and Deacons, 1Tim 3:1-13.
*It must have the Holy Eucharist celebration, Jn 6:42-70, Act 2:42.
*It must be found in all nations, Mt 28:19.
*It must be found in all centuries, Mt 28:20.
*Jesus Christ said He would be with His Church every day, in every year, until the end of the world,   Mt 28:20. (This means no gaps in time.)

[Salvation]

What a testimony!

May we all be endowed with the Holy Spirit in similar ways.

[Alex Murphy]

Saint John the Apostle in the Holy Scriptures gave us how to test to see if a false Prophet exists....Every spirit that ACKNOWLEDGES that Jesus Christ has come IN the FLESH(HUMAN) is from God...but every spirit that DOES NOT acknowledge Jesus is not from God....

....If you can recite [the Nicene Creed] and believe in a single Divinity became man (which is Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord) you have the Holy Spirit in You. This is no matter what church as long as you fill this requirement....

....being a Catholic Christian (by confessing every Sunday Mass the Nicene Creed) you always had the Holy Spirit. If you left the Catholic church and went to another 1John4 type church you did not get The Holy Spirit from that Church first in your Life. You had it from the beginning in the Catholic Mass confession of Faith....

Summarizing your post for the lurkers.

[johngrace]

YES!

We are all endowed with the Holy Spirit when we are in Christ(1John4). Praying in All Things.

Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

1John4: 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in... .

[johngrace]

Hi Alex- WOW! Gnashing of Teeth? What Spirit do you have?

Let Go and Let God!

I will be praying for You!

Eternal Father, we offer Thee the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy Beloved Son and my Divine Redeemer, for all my relations, friends and enemies, for the poor, the sick, and those in tribulation, and for all those for whom Thou willest I should pray, or knowest that I ought to pray.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Blessed and praised forevermore be Jesus Who hath saved us by His Precious Blood!

[Alex Murphy]

Hi Alex- WOW! Gnashing of Teeth? What Spirit do you have? Let Go and Let God! I will be praying for You!

John, I think your monitor may need cleaning.

[johngrace]

Okay Alex. I know what I posted. It was question. I got it. You always keep it short and vague. You like to copy and paste what was originally posted from others then a short original cute sentence. It is getting old. Never a full explanation of meaning of what you posted in proper detail. We are praying for you!

[Alex Murphy]

Okay Alex. I know what I posted. It was question. I got it. You always keep it short and vague. You like to copy and paste what was originally posted from others then a short original cute sentence. It is getting old. Never a full explanation of meaning of what you posted in proper detail.

The "proper detail" is usually found in the full article. The "copy and paste" is called excerpting, for those who need encouragement to read the full article. I keep it "short and vague" so as to avoid needless editorializing, which often distracts FReepers from focusing on the article.

But if you really want to discuss the poster and not the post, why not start a thread with me as your topic? It's been done several times before, believe me. And I can honestly say that it's never turned out well for the FReepers who did it. But feel free to try - maybe yours will be different!

[johngrace]

ROFL! You are a very misunderstanding to who you are talking to in this reply.It sounds very vindicative for someone to do that act to post about another. I can not speak for others though. I hope I would never do such a thing.

I only wish and pray you the best.

May Christ Bless You and Keep you!

Freeper Cheers!

[Alex Murphy]

ROFL! You are a very misunderstanding to who you are talking to in this reply.It sounds very vindicative for someone to do that act to post about another. I can not speak for others though. I hope I would never do such a thing.

I only wish and pray you the best.

May Christ Bless You and Keep you!

Freeper Cheers!

Believe me, John when I say that one day, when we're all in Heaven, that I fully intend to locate every Catholic FReeper who's ever held a grudge against me and answer for my current behavior, to their hearts' content. They won't have to seek me out - I'll come find them.

Believe me also, when I say that a lot of people will continue to be disappointed until that day.