Posted on 07/03/2021 8:46:35 AM PDT by Marchmain
ROME – For the first time, a cardinal will stand trial in a Vatican court along with nine other individual defendants and three corporate entities, all charged with various offenses for their roles in a controversial London property deal orchestrated by the Vatican’s Secretariat of State.
Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who oversaw the early stages of the London deal when he served as the substitute, or number two official, was indicted on Saturday along with nine others, including well-known Swiss lawyer René Brülhart, the former president of the Vatican’s financial watchdog unit. The decision comes after a two-year investigation.
The trial will begin July 27, and charges range from extortion, embezzlement and fraud to money laundering, abuse of office and violation of official secrecy.
Becciu, also formerly the head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints, was removed from his position by Pope Francis late last year, who forced him to resign from the rights and privileges of a cardinal. He faces charges for the crimes of embezzlement and abuse of office, as well as subornation.
Neither Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State, nor Venezuelan Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the current substitute, were among those indicted, as prosecutors said they found they were “not fully aware” of the details of the financial maneuvers.
(Excerpt) Read more at cruxnow.com ...
Did they fall over dead when they entered the house 0where Peter (just following the “Vicar of Christ” line of “logic” here) was?
No? So doesn’t that mean they did not lie to the Holy Spirit?
Just joking around with ya. Actually, they “forgot” to give the Big Guy his 10%.
If Frank is going after them, they must be GOOOOOD.
It still amazes me, although it really shouldn’t, given the history of the Vatican and the hierarchy over the last 50 years, how swiftly and unapologetically and determinedly and thoroughly and permanently they deal with financial corruption, at any level (as long as it’s not combined with sexual misconduct) but they fail to deal with sexual depravity and theological dissent at all.
cue Claude Rains meme
More likely, they weren't prosecuted because they are buddies of Bergoglio and Xi Jinping.
Prosecutors have acknowledged that Pope Francis was aware of the deal, and even attended a December 2018 meeting with Torzi. One witness has said Francis agreed to pay Torzi a “just” compensation to turn the building over.
Other high-ranking officials, including the secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin and his deputy, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, were also aware and approved the deal with Torzi. Documents show Pena Parra had authorized one of his deputies to sign the contract with Torzi giving him full voting rights.
None of them was indicted.
I wonder why?
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