Vatican sentences ex-diplomat on child pornography charges in first trial of its kind

By Emily Birnbaum
Hill
June 23, 2018

http://thehill.com/homenews/news/393777-vatican-sentences-ex-diplomat-on-child-pornography-charges-in-first-trial-of

The Vatican court on Saturday sentenced a former Holy See diplomat to five years in prison for possessing and distributing child pornography in the first trial of its kind, according to The Associated Press.  

Monsignor Carlo Capella admitted he downloaded child pornography when he was serving as a Vatican diplomat in the Holy See’s Washington Embassy last year. The court found 40 to 55 pornographic photos, films and Japanese animation on his cellphone, an iCloud and Tumblr account, the AP reported.

The State Department alerted the Vatican to the existence of the child pornography, leading to Capella’s recall last year, according to The Washington Post.

This is the first time on record that the Vatican has convicted one of its former diplomats for this crime, according to the Post.

The conviction comes at a time when the Vatican faces increased scrutiny of its response to allegations of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. 

Capella said he viewed the images during a period of “fragility,” calling his behavior “repugnant.” He appealed for lenience, saying he wanted to continue his priestly vocation, according to the AP.  

Capella will reportedly serve his sentence in the Vatican’s police force building.