VATICAN CITY
Belfast Telegraph
By Michael Day
Thursday, 31 May 2012
The Vatican has long been said by those who know it to be a nest of vipers. But, recently, the poison has been laid bare for everyone to see as leak after an embarrassing leak has revealed an institution at war with itself.
Already this year we’ve read about documents warning of a death threat against the Pope, widespread nepotism and corruption, exiled whistleblowers, gay smear campaigns and embarrassing revelations about the Vatican’s tax affairs. …
As the author of a new book on the Vatican, Gianluigi Nuzzi, says: “During the papacy of John Paul II, paedophilia was not pursued like it has been today. This pope has removed 50 priests.”
Another Vatican watcher, Robert Mickens of The Tablet, has a simpler take the Holy See’s woes: “It’s arrogance. The people in charge still think the Vatican is above ordinary laws.”
Observers also point to the Vatican’s decision to censure nuns in the US for daring to “disagree with or challenge positions taken by the bishops” on key social issues.
“All these things are symptoms of a bigger problem. The structure of the Vatican – which is an absolute monarchy – is no longer suitable for the modern world,” says Mickens.
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