Gay Prostitution Scandal Rocks Vatican
The Italian press is now reporting that one of Pope Benedict’s ceremonial ushers as well as a member of the Vatican’s elite choir at Saint Peter’s Basilica were involved in a gay prostitution ring. Secret wiretaps and recording reveal that Angelo Balducci (an Italian executive who was a “Gentleman of His Holiness”) negotiating with a Nigerian
Vatican choir member (Ghinedu Ehiem) for the services of male prostitutes. Balducci has been arrested and the Vatican has cut ties with both these individuals. Some of the men allegedly procured for Balducci were seminarians at the Vatican.
The past six months have been very difficult times for the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church worldwide. Numerous sex and sexual abuse scandals involving senior Church members have come up in countries like the United States, Ireland and Germany. A three year government investigation in Ireland released recently has revealed that the Church for decades covered up child abuse by priests because bishops wanted to protect the Church’s reputation at the expense of the victims.
In Germany Rev. Georg Ratzinger who is the brother of Pope Benedict XVI has said that he is willing to testify in the sexual abuse scandal that has gripped the nation in recent weeks. About 170 former students who studied in Catholic schools in Germany have come forward and claimed that they have been sexually abused when they were in school.
Rev. Georg Ratzinger was the leader of the Roman Catholic boy’s choir at the Regensburg Diocese from 1964 to 1994. A man who was a resident of the boarding school has alleged that “a sophisticated system of sadistic punishments in connection with sexual lust” was in place. The Pope’s brother has denied knowledge of these abuses. He said that “I insist, I wasn’t around in that situation, I wasn’t at the choir when the cases they’re talking about happened”. He also said that “I want to note that I sense a certain animosity toward the church”.
Sexual abuse is a serious issue and individuals who come forward do so knowing fully well that the majority of the faithful will not be swayed by their testimony. Many who make these allegations themselves are devout Catholics and are not doing so because of any animosity towards the Church. Legally what matters is whether these allegations are true or false and if the past record of the Church is an indicator then the legal defense team of the Diocese has a lot of work ahead of them.
Sexual abuse by Catholic priests have been alleged in India also. Last week Father K.G. Joseph was arrested by Kerala police and charged under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (assault or criminal force to women). This alleged incident happened at a hostel run by Orthodox Church at Pothukal in Malappuram district. The victim was a student of Catholicate Higher Secondary School run by the Church.
The issues do not stop with the sexual abuse scandals alone. The following is dwindling particularly in the Western nations and the Church is having difficulty increasing the number of Roman Catholic priests. To counter the loss of priests in America the Vatican last year contracted with Manpower Inc., to hire temporary part-time priests to fill open positions.
The Pope explained the decision in a decree issued by the Vatican “That is why, for the first time in two millennia, we’re allowing pretty much anyone who is willing to show up at 9 a.m. and work for slightly more than minimum wage to act as a Vessel of Christ”. The selected candidates are shown a 35 minute video about the “Rite of Ordination” and receiving Holy Orders. The new hires are also issued two sets of ecclesiastical vestments (the dress that priests wear).
But decisions such as these have not gone well with some of the faithful. The Onion reported on this story. One of the parishioners at the Church of the Immaculate (Fayetteville, AR) Gloria Huston said that “In the 45 years that I’ve been a member of this parish I never once saw a priest sitting on the altar eating McDonald’s”. One of the new part-time priests hired at St. Joseph’s Cathedral said that “It’s really not all that different from a fast food gig except maybe the uniforms here are a bit more humiliating”.
Another employee was quoted as saying “This is okay for now. They need somebody to do their grunt work and I need the money”. He explained that the “vow of celibacy is kind of a drag” but that he rarely has sex between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. anyway. Amen to that!!
Related posts:
- Priest Accused of Sexual Assault Serving in India
- Popes Comments On Outsourcing Racially Motivated?
- Saint Thomas the Apostle of India
- Pope’s Preaches Unity
- High Literacy Rate in Kerala Not Because of Catholic Church
Category: Culture & Religion
celibacy is a mean thing to enforce…the natural biological needs of a person has to be satisfied…denying it will make people break the rule…abuse and excesses, though, have to be treated seriously.
Yes I agree Nalini. I also think that there has to be better oversight.