With five days to go before Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, the Vatican is being rocked by an explosive report that he decided to quit after learning of a network of influential gay prelates who were being blackmailed by gay outsiders.
The revelation stems from Benedict’s ordering a committee of three cardinals to investigate the unauthorized release to journalists of Vatican papers — the “Vati-leaks” scandal — and to make the findings for his eyes only.
Ironically, the two-volume, red-leather-bound cardinals’ report running nearly 300 pages was itself leaked.
Reuters
SACRILEGIOUS:Pope Benedict XVI commissioned a probe that unearthed evidence of gay clergy members within the Vatican being blackmailed by gay laity.
Italy’s leading newspaper, La Repubblica, reported this week that the report was turned over to Benedict on Dec. 17 and he decided that day to resign.
The cardinals questioned dozens of Vatican officials and concluded the Holy See was corrupted by rival factions.
“Everything revolves around the non-observance of the Sixth and Seventh Commandments,” the report said, according to La Repubblica.
That’s a reference to “Thou shall not steal” — for the alleged pilfering of the Vatican bank — and “Thou shall not commit adultery,” which alludes to homosexuality.
La Repubblica added that members of one faction were “united by sexual orientation.”
“Some prelates are ‘externally influenced’ — we would say blackmailed — by laity who are linked by bonds of a ‘worldly nature,’ ” the paper said.
A similar report appeared in Italy’s news weekly Panorama, which named a Roman sauna where gay encounters allegedly took place.
Other Italian news media reported that Benedict was shocked by the findings.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi had indicated the pope may meet with the cardinals who compiled the document before he steps down next Thursday.
The newspaper La Stampa said Benedict was considering handing the report to the College of Cardinals when they begin their conclave to choose his successor.
Lombardi yesterday rebuffed efforts to get official reaction to the media reports.
One of the three cardinals who investigated Vati-leaks, Julian Herranz, hinted at the findings.
“There will be black sheep, like in all families,” he told El Pais.
Why Benedict ‘really’ quit
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Why Benedict ‘really’ quit
