Tonight on CBS, a Peek Inside the Vatican Library

Patheos ^ | 10/28/14 | Kathy Schiffer

[marshmallow]

Tonight on CBS, viewers will be treated to a special hour of “60 Minutes Presents: Inside the Vatican.” Scott Pelley will profile Pope Francis, who is surprising the world by spurning tradition; and Morley Safer will lead viewers on a tour of the Vatican Library.

The program will air at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time and Pacific Time. To whet your appetite for what is certain to be a fascinating disclosure of rarely seen documents, let me tell you a little about the things I’ve seen in that hallowed space. Center> * * * * It was my great privilege to tour the Vatican Secret Archives in September 2004. At that time, the thousands of documents and historical artifacts housed therein had rarely been seen by anyone but the Pope and his Curia, and Vatican scholars. Since that time, though, most of the collections housed in the Vatican Libraries, including the “Secret Archives,” have been made available on-line for all to see.

That was not the case just a few years ago, though, and this was One Really Special Opportunity! As conference director for Legatus, the international association of Catholic CEOs, I organized a trip that was part pilgrimage, part back-lot tour; and one of the highlights for our group was a private tour of the Secret Archives with the Vatican Library’s general secretary, Dr. Luca Carboni.

In anticipation of the CBS “reveal”, I thought I’d share some of the rare exhibits on display inside the walls of Vatican City.

[Biggirl]

There is I believe an online site about that library.

[LadyDoc]

The prohibition against cousin marriages to the 3rd or 4th degree was not just a way to get power...Given the genetic problems in European aristocracy, it looks like they might have been right.

and the congenital malformation rate in Saudi Arabia and other countries where cousins can marry suggest this also.

but it does not have to be just cousins marrying cousins...any small population that intermarries has similar problems....example Askanazi Jews or the Amish...