Posted on 07/17/2008 8:24:15 PM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus
The treasurer of the Roman Catholic shrine of Lourdes was yesterday at the centre of a major fraud inquiry.
Father Raymond Zambelli, 65, rector of the site of 66 recognised miracles, has been asked to explain how at least £350,000 raised for the sick and dying ended up in his account.
More than six million pilgrims visit the town in south-west France every year, many of them donating huge amounts of money to its upkeep.
Police confirmed that an inquiry into the ' misappropriation of funds' had been launched, looking at several individuals including a priest.
Much of the money was raised for the sick and the dying who visit the shrine in the foothills of the Pyrenees in south west France every year because they believe it is a place of miracles.
Father Zambelli, who last night denied all wrong doing, was due to welcome the Pope to Lourdes in September to celebrate its 150th anniversary as a place of Christian pilgrimage.
Instead he will now be asked to explain how at least £350,000 destined for Lourdes came to end up in his personal bank account.
As a priest Father Zambelli’s annual salary would be less than £10,000, with his food, accommodation and other living costs all taken care of.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
No decent words.
Off to Craggy Island with him.
This doesn’t sound right - just too obvious! I’ve got a feeling it’s a big mistake.
No problem,
I’m sure that he was just trying to accumulate enough cash to be able to equitably dole it out for all the alter boys who got buggered over the past few years!
All are sinners, and fall short of the Glory.
Ain’t temptation a beotch?
It was just "resting in his account". There's no other credible explanation.
Once Bishop Brennan shows up he'll get it all sorted out...
Ping.
Your antiCatholic counterpart is working overtime tonight.
Titus, aren’t you aware that there is a religion forum for such posts?
Convicted minister (Henry Lyons) returns to Fla. pulpit
"Lyons served nearly five years on grand theft and racketeering charges for using his former role as president of the National Baptist Convention to steal millions of dollars to finance his lavish lifestyle. The scheme fell apart after Lyons' wife set a fire at a home he had secretly bought with his mistress."
Wiki on Lyons present status:
“In April 2007 Lyons was defeated in an attempt to be re-elected President of the Florida Baptist Convention [18]. Subsequently he and his supporters organized the General Baptist State Convention of Florida [19], of which he is the President. He has been frequently mentioned as a candidate for the Presidency of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. for the 2009 election.”
Since you are posting stories about Lourdes:
What explanation do you have for the thousands of wheelchairs and crutches that have been left behind at Lourdes by pilgrims?
What explanation do you have for the cancers that have disappeared overnight, or the six inches of missing bone that has grown overnight, or the sight restored, or the hearing restored?
Have you ever done any reading about Bernadette Soubirous, or Lourdes, other than this news article?
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