Rent boy scandal rocks the Vatican

[SecularMotion]

THE Vatican is bracing itself for a rent boy scandal after a convicted pedophile priest apparently sought vengeance by informing on other child abusers in the Roman clergy.

Don Patrizio Poggi, who served a five-year sentence for abusing five 14 and 15-year-old boys at his parish on the outskirts of the Italian capital, has reportedly handed names to police. So far, four people have formally been placed under investigation by Rome magistrates.

The suspects are said to include a monsignor who is currently the secretary of an important bishop. Also being investigated is a former Carabinieri police officer suspected of recruiting under-age boys for the alleged prostitution ring.

The brewing scandal comes just weeks after Pope Francis confirmed the existence of a "gay lobby" in the Vatican to a visiting Latin American church group.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&ved=0CEgQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Frent-boy-scandal-rocks-the-vatican%2Fstory-fnb64oi6-1226670396654&ei=bcXNUZX2BMiF0QGw6oCgBw&usg=AFQjCNG8BSQoztsMK8LEoA0d8RuI9U-iAw

[rug]

1. And?

[skepticscott]

23. You're right..it is hardly news any more

to discover that not all of the child raping and coverups of same in the RCC have come to light.

[rug]

28. And?

[cbayer]

2. The Newscorp site is blocked by a sign in page.

[SecularMotion]

4. Here's some more links

Catholic Gay Sex Scandal: Vatican officials rent UNDERAGE boys for $150-500 euros in Vatican prostitution ring

http://www.vaticancrimes.us/2013/06/catholic-gay-sex-scandal-underaged-rent.html


Rent-Boy Scandal Rocks the Vatican: Convicted Priest Patrizio Poggi Exposes Vatican Prostitution Ring

http://www.vaticancrimes.us/2013/06/rent-boy-scandal-rocks-vatican.html

[cbayer]

6. Thanks. Hard to know where the truth lies on this one.

The man making the accusations has served time for pedophilia and apparently has a motive, as the Vatican has refused to reinstate him.

He also has made accusations of hosts being sold for satanic rituals.

Not defending the horrific crimes that have occurred by any means, just questioning the source on this one.

[trotsky]

7. True, given the overwhelmingly pristine image of the RCC on this issue...

they definitely deserve the benefit of the doubt when it comes to new pedophilia charges.

[demwing]

30. Everyone deserved the benefit of doubt. We are assumed innocent till proven guilty.

I'm no fan of the RCC, just a fan of the rules of law.

[trotsky]

31. When it comes to the law, sure.

When it comes to my opinion, no fucking way. Not given the history and continuing protection of those known to be involved.

[demwing]

32. agreed 100%

I have zero personal tolerance of RCC pedo-protectors. I don't see myself as a fitting jurist. My bias would show.

[dimbear]

22. The Italian press is having a tinfoil helmet field day with this one.

Evidently Poggi is either a misunderestimated whistleblower or a paranoid revenge seeker.

Time will tell.

[cbayer]

25. That's how it reads to me as well.

Too early and too little information to form much of an opinion either way.

[dimbear]

27. Interesting that just as in the Paolo Gabriele scandal, there's a TV show involved.

"Belli e dannati"

I'm not sure how that ties in to F. Scott Fitzgerald's book of the same title. That's the standard Italian translation of "The Beautiful and the Damned."

[okasha]

8. Gee, thanks for posting,

not once but twice, material that equates "gay" with "pedophile."

[SecularMotion]

9. That's a very ugly and bigoted comment.

There is nothing in either article that equates being gay with pedophilia.

[cbayer]

10. Actually there is in the two links from Vatican Crimes, starting with the title.

Even the initial link seems to conflate the two when they talk about the "gay lobby".

I think it is important to stay vigilant about this, as they are two very distinct issues, imo.

[SecularMotion]

11. It doesn't say that at all

Please provide the quote that says the Vatican officials were gay or homosexual.

As you say, the prostitution ring and gay lobby are two different issues. To conflate the two issues would be bigoted.

[cbayer]

13. One piece is entitled:Catholic Gay Sex Scandal: Vatican officials rent UNDERAGE boys for $150-500

The other doesn't conflate the two.

I think the point here is that we need to be vigilant about the distinction.

I don't think it was your intent to confuse them, though.

[okasha]

12. In the article you linked in your first post,

James Bone associates pedophiles with the alleged "gay lobby" within the RCC.

The headline you posted yourself reads: Catholic Gay Sex Scandal: Vatican Officials rent UNDERAGE Boys . . . .

What about the equation of "Gay" with renters of "underage" boys don't you get?

And yes, that equation is ugly and bigoted.

[SecularMotion]

14. The term "gay" is used to describe the sex between two males.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe "celibate" church officials can have a sexuality.

[okasha]

15. The term "pedophilia" is used to describe sex between an adult and a minor,

regardless of sexual orientation. "Gay" is used to describe sex between two adults of the same gender.

Of course "celibate"--and celibate--church officials have a sexuality. The ones who honor their vows just don't act on it.

Up until your current post, I assumed you were unaware that what you had posted was bigoted. I'm sorry to see that the assumption was unwarranted.

[SecularMotion]

16. Well, I guess you'll have to take it up with the editor or author of the article.

I certainly didn't read it as a connection between gays and pedophilia.

[okasha]

17. The editor and author

didn't post it on DU, in a supposedly progressive group on a progressive site.

You did that, and you're defending that.

[SecularMotion]

18. We've come full circle here.

To equate "gay" with "pedophilia" from reading an article concerning a Vatican prostitution ring would be bigoted.

[okasha]

19. Keep digging.

nt

[SecularMotion]

20. The bigotry is in the reader, not the article.

Please show me where in the article about Vatican officials having sex with underage males, it states or even infers that all homosexuals are pedophiles.

[okasha]

21. And keep moving the goal posts.

By the way, you're not addressing at all the headline you posted. I wonder why?

[Jackpine Radical]

26. Absolutely wrong.

Pedophilia is the sexual ATTRACTION to pre-pubescent children (i.e. at or before Tanner Stage 2).

One can be diagnosed with pedophilia without having ever touched a child--for example, if you have the urges and are bothered by them. Pedophilia may be exclusive or non-exclusive.

As for an attraction to 14 or 15-year-olds, that is not pedophilia. Some specialists in the field of sexual deviance refer to the attraction to children in this age range as Hebephilia, but it is not a recognized sexual disorder (partly because it's so common).

At least that's the case using DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5. ICD9/10 is a little sloppier about the victim age criterion.

[Goblinmonger]

24. No outrage for the RCC, though.

Very interesting.

[trotsky]

3. Another day, another RCC sex scandal.

I'm glad he's decided to name others though.

[dimbear]

29. I'm not sure Poggi is wise to try to drag in accusations of Satanism. It

invites skepticism. I see it's being reported on some sites that he has some interesting videos.

O mores, o tempores.

[backscatter712]

5. The Catholic Church involved in child molestation?