Vatican Sex Sting

An after-hours office meeting between a young man and a top Roman Catholic official has prompted a fresh inquiry into gay priests. What the investigation could mean for the Holy See.

Newsweek Web Exclusive
Oct 18, 2007 | Updated: 10:06  a.m. ET Oct 18, 2007

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  • Posted By: Shankardada2 @ 11/07/2007 10:31:30 PM

    Homosexuality should not to be condemned. But celibacy should be.

  • Posted By: goodnewsforcatholics @ 10/19/2007 4:55:58 PM

    to Steve E.: It shows in Bible that homosexuality is a sin in several places. Sit back, blow the dust off that Bible and let's reason together, shall we! lol Genesis 1:27,28 Genesis 2:24 shows God's original plan for man and woman, not man and man, nor woman and woman. God destroyed the city of Socam and Gomorrah because of homosexuality Genesis 19 and Judy 1:7. "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination." (Leviticus 18:22) "If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13) "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which is due." (Romans 1:26,27) And in his epistle to Timothy Paul says, "But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine," (1 Timothy 1:8-10) And finally in his epistle to the Corinthians we find, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, not adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, not thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9,10) Paul put homosexuality in the category of sin right along with fornication, worshiping idols, committing adultery, stealing, drunkenness, kidnapping, and other such acts which are repulsive to Christians.
    Hope this helps! :-) and thanks for asking!



    • Posted By: Vegasman @ 11/05/2007 2:37:40 AM

      Glad to see you are so "well read" of the Bible. Can I safely assume that you haven't violated any of the teachings of the Bible? You don't eat any pork products (also forbidden in Leviticus)? Even something simpler, never violated any of the Ten Commandments? (Never used God's name in vein? Never disobeyed your parents? No work of any kind on the Sabbath? Never coveted anything of your neighbors? Wow!!! You are a saint!!! God bless you. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone! Please pick up your stone now and stone everyone else around you.

  • Posted By: TELLTHETRUTH @ 10/26/2007 8:45:32 PM

    thurnherr........ethnicity and religion are not synonymous with sexual orientation. they are apples and oranges. it baffles that homosexuals rank a sexual orientation with ethicity and/or religion. i am not homophobic. and i'll refrain from patronizing u by saying "some of my best friends are gay". (i hate that lame rhetoric). yeah im on the side that feels at birth a person may have a proclivity toward the same sex but i dont agree with such a lifestyle. anatomically its not natural. and for that i offer no excuse. so i do take sissue with the act. but value u as a person. when persons are allowed to comment on articles, etc, on a post board forum u cant wear your emotions on your sleeves. yes some may use the forum to spew venom but thats part of the "post forum" freedom. and that freedom is enjoyed by posters. certainly not by the editorial staff of newsweek or anyother media. appealing to newsweek is not the solution. (unless its one of their writers bashing gays in an article. and that would be unacceptable). lighten up. "john q public" will not be converted. the fight is not with newsweek but with people around u that may be homophobic and insensitive to your humanity. just remeber your sexual orientation is not and will not be akin to ethnicity and religion. and the country u choose to live in waxes puritanical when it comes to certain issues. it is what it is for now. u cant honour free speech then have doubts. what u really mean is u believe in censorship when it involves your own backyard. (no pun intended). bottom line? grow up and stop whining. or better yet call priest stenico here and seek refuge.

  • Posted By: thurnherr @ 10/26/2007 5:42:45 AM

    Dear Newsweek editors, I appreciate that you want to provide your readers with an opportunity to comment on news stories. However, I am shocked that many people abuse this platform to spread intolerance and prejudice against gays rather than to focus on the real story. The "comments" are often narrow-minded and filled with hate and the contrast to the balanced and often superb writing style of Newsweek reports is striking. I value free speech but doubt that some of these postings (one of which was even featured in the [European] print edition of Newsweek) would remain unedited if they were criticizing ethnical or religious groups instead of gays. Or is it really a sign that gay rights have evolved far more in Europe than in the USA?

  • Posted By: thurnherr @ 10/26/2007 5:28:25 AM

    To all Newsweek editors: I appreciate that you want to provide your readers with an opportunity to comment on stories. However, I am shocked that this platform is abused by people to spread prejudice and intolerance against gays rather than commenting on the story itself. The "comments" are often thoughtless and narrow-minded and a real contrast to the superb and balanced writing style of Newsweek reporters. I honour free speech but I doubt that these postings (one of which even made it into the [European] print edition of Newsweek) would remain unedited if they were discriminating ethnical or religious groups instead of gays. Or is it really a sign that gay rights have advanced far more in Europe than in the US?

  • Posted By: TELLTHETRUTH @ 10/24/2007 4:24:53 PM

    Look at the villain in his pic. he looks effeminate. all bright eyed and bushy-tailed. like hes waiting for a vile encounter. another thing ive come to know is that catholic priests are not really familiar with scripture. just bits and pieces. the overwhelming majority of their knowledge or responses are based on the constructs of the catholic church. certainly they dont believe they are an off-shoot of the early church at jerusalem found in the book of Acts. apostle paul or peter would condemn them and call them wolves in sheep clothing. jesus would call them snakes, vipers, hypocrites.

  • Posted By: TELLTHETRUTH @ 10/24/2007 4:15:22 PM

    its just as plain as day that many, many, many catholic priests are gay. the catholic church many times is a haven for their perverted behavior. they are effeminate men disguised as "genteel". and are social misfits so what better place than a so-called spiritual organization that lives commune style? where wicked behaviors can be shrouded? as little as its percevied many priests are very introverted and self-centered which can be a trait amongst pedophiles. to be a pedophile is a sick, wicked perversion. for an adult to be thrilled with sexual relations with a child or a youngster is just plain vile and sick. its beyond same sex with a consenting adult. many priests would probably bang a snake if they could hold it still. what they need to do is get that effemiinate male and let him bunk with "Bubba" at the local prison and let Bubba work him over with 4 other guys but then again some of those sick jerks might like that. if we began to castrate those infidels that would be a sure anti-dote and deterrent.

  • Posted By: TELLTHETRUTH @ 10/24/2007 3:43:29 PM

    Myopinioncounts. first of all exactly when (dates) was the catholic church "invincible"?
    secondly how do u stop the "dis-ease" of pedophilia?
    when pedophilia has been committed since time began?

  • Posted By: TELLTHETRUTH @ 10/24/2007 2:46:40 PM

    its insane that a thinking person would align themselves with a supposed spiritual organization that is steeped in secrecy, crimes, gross false doctrines not even found in the bible, pedophilia, lesbianism, and homosexuality. when people dont want to really obey Christ they make up their own righteousness and devise methods of "suffering" that they think makes heaven smile. its really bad when youre self-deceived.

  • Posted By: Myopinioncounts @ 10/24/2007 10:19:44 AM

    Re: Vatican Sex Sting
    I'm glad that this was exposed because the Catholic church has a history of covering up the unlawful acts of its priests and protecting them from prosecution for pedophilia. It also seems that they care more for the priest involve in this case than in the victim. That's why I encourage every victim of the Catholic Priests to come forward so that this disease stops from spreading any further and the criminals get what they deserve. I

  • Posted By: Myopinioncounts @ 10/24/2007 10:11:15 AM

    Re: Vatican Sex Sting
    I am greatful that this issue became public because people need to know what is going on in this once invincible Church. It seems like the church cares more for the priest than for the victim. In the past the Catholic church would cover this incidents of sexual miscunduct and protected the priests from facing the law for pedophilia by sending them to serve some place else. This really shows how much they care for their followers.

  • Posted By: Yorgo @ 10/23/2007 5:46:30 PM

    Homosexual priests-So ! thats not news it's history
    When is the RC Church going to wake up and cancel that 8th century rule preventing priests from being married ,to a woman. The sole purpose being to prevent wifes,mistresses,kids,bastards from inheriting a priests estate. Perhaps some MEN WILL BECOME PRIESTS.

  • Posted By: Yorgo @ 10/23/2007 5:39:21 PM

    So -this is news? When is the church going to end this 8th century rule ,preventing married priests,the purpose being to prevent the wifes ,children and bastards from inheriting a priest's estate.
    Fr George

  • Posted By: Mighty Crouton @ 10/21/2007 4:35:29 PM

    Sounds like the vatican is supporting another witch hunt! Yaay! Humanity's really gotten so far since the burnings, huh? Now instead of killing people, they publicly shame and mentally screw them over. Yaay Vatican for showing the growth of man and civil liberties.

  • Posted By: TELLTHETRUTH @ 10/20/2007 4:41:54 PM

    omahkohkiaayo i agree with your discoveries about the catholic church. but your daughter needs not to be contending with the "institution". the best decision is to remove her from the school and not put her in a learning situtation where there are personal odds that are not and wll not be accounted for. a teenager does not need to be contending with catholic church policies and christopher columbus fallacies. your daughters attention needs not be distracted with vain philosophy.

  • Posted By: TELLTHETRUTH @ 10/20/2007 12:07:21 PM

    omahkohkiaayo my point is a 9yr old shouldnt have to act as an advocate expressing disagreement concerning americas history and the policies of the catholic church. apparently u think something of that nature for a 9 yr old is savvy. its not. a child shouldnt have to construct such disagreements of that nature. thats emotionally out of order.. shes a child. YOU oughta know whats going on in the school anway. why would u enroll your child in a dogmatic school in the first place? if your family has an issue with the christopher columbus fallcy why would u subject your daughter to an environment that faithfully reveres him each year? your daughter doesnt belong in a parochial school. your culture and the catholic church culture are not a match. i think you have miscalculated in this decision. again i am riveted on the point that your family wholeheartedly disagrees with the catholic church YET u pay tuition to send her there? YOU need to re-think that.

    • Posted By: Omahkohkiaayo @ 10/20/2007 12:46:17 PM

      Final reply: My daughter was not acting as an advocate or shill for me, she really had/has her own opinions not all of which I agree with and she does not agree with all of mine. She was enrolled in Catholic School at the insistence of her mother and did not object, and would have kept her in if that school had allowed some individual critical thinking, and Catholic Schools do have some virtues.

      The story I relayed was relayed to me and I have no reason to doubt it; I was not present at the time. But my daughter pretty much confirmed what she had said and why and it had to do with being moved by the Oprah program she and her grandmother watched together not my influence. Her notion of what is real repentence about and what does it take came from her confirmation classes not from me as I am not Catholic.

      I once asked her teacher, on the Columbus thing, what if my daughter were Jewish and you were celeebtraing Hitler's birthday, would she understand my daughter being a bit pssed about that. She answered yes. Well my daughter is a Blackfoot Indian and celebrating Columbus Day for Her, is just like celebrating Hitler's birthday for a Jewish child.

      But the real issue, not whether or not my daughter or any child can have truly their own opinion and at what age, but the real issue is the rank arrogance, hypocrisy and treachery of the Catholic Church that dares to pronounce itself the only true Church and all others either sects or deformed wings of one true Church.

      The real issue is the rank treachery and just naked hypocrisy and my daughter could see it and sees it more now at her present age. They still refuse to apoplogize for or even acknowledge centruies of genocide against Indigenous Peoples, for their role in hiding and aiding escaping nazis and a whole host of crimes past and present. But they tell their parishioners to tell all, not to equivocate or cop out, try to make amends with victims regardless of implications on legal liability etc. But when it comes to their own crimes, and these are crimes, apparently their priests and nuns and bishops, archbishops covering-up for them are just too good to go to jail where they belong.

      And now with the Opus Dei crowd really runnning things it is even more ugly and fascistic like the recently canonized founder of Opus Dei himself.

  • Posted By: bailarina @ 10/19/2007 1:18:36 PM

    Posted By: Omahkohkiaayo @ 10/19/2007 1:08:41 PM

    Congrats for your daughter. At 9 she can elaborate like that? Watch out.

    • Posted By: Omahkohkiaayo @ 10/20/2007 2:10:59 AM

      Yes, now she is 13 going on 14 and yes she is turning into something else. When she got into the public schools her reading improved as she could read Japanese anime books that the Cathlic School told her were full of subliminal satanic imaging and hidden messages.

      But she grasped an important point almost instinctively. Here is teh Church telling its parishioners that they cannot talk to God and ask forgiveness directly, they have to go through one of God's mediators when he is not out molesting, and further, they cannot equivocate, they must tell it all, they must be truly sorry and not just for having been caught, they must try to make amends with the victims, they must take steps not to repeat the sin etc etc.

      And here is the Catholic Church promoting Cardinals like Law of Boston with a long record of playing musical parishes with molester priests and doing cover-ups, into the Vatican, and out of the reach of the law, doing legal obstructions of cases and settling only when about to go to court and be exposed in court and under oath, taking no steps to help the victims as that would admit liability etc.

      That is rank hypocrisy a six year old with an IQ over that of a tomato should be able to spot.

  • Posted By: TELLTHETRUTH @ 10/19/2007 2:08:58 PM

    omahkohkiaayo. thats story sounds concocted. at 9 yrs old a child is not riveted on "the pope" and the policies of the catholic church. you shouldnt embellish like that. first of all is she DID have such thoughts they should have been discussed AT HOME. and she should have been instructed not to speak in that manner. whos the parent you or the child? thats adult dialogue. not dialogue for a 9 yr old. is it YOU that feels the pope is a liar and youre usuing your daughter as a smokescreen for your own feelings?

    • Posted By: Omahkohkiaayo @ 10/20/2007 1:49:52 AM

      The story is exactly as it was relayed to me by her teacher who was a dogmatic Catholic and not very happy. My daughter had just seen a program on Oprah about the issue and also had discussed it with me and yes I did say I thought the pope was a hypocrite, liar and fascist like the present one. My daughter had got detetnion at six for saying "Columbus was a fake", she did not know how to say Genocidal maniac, and at seven she got into trouble for saying the Pledge of Allegiance is a bunch of damn lies and my Dad told me not to tell lies". In that case, I poinbted out to the teacher that as a Blackfoot Indian, who had been on more than ten Rezes before she was six, she knew better than most smug, willfully blind and comfortable Americans how much the Pledge of Allegiance is a bunch of damn lies..."

      Sorry if what is too deep for you "must not" or "could not" have come from a nine year old child; that is your own arrogance and ultra-sensitivity showing.

  • Posted By: LuckyRon @ 10/19/2007 7:27:54 PM

    Posted By: goodnewsforcatholics @ 10/19/2007 5:06:17 PM
    Comment: as crazy as it sounds, the bible actually calls the Catholic church a harlot (whore) ... the bible identifies this church as the one that sits on seven hills (Rome). (Rev 18:4-5 NIV) Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; {5} for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. Anyone heard of the Inquisition?

    Is it possible that men and women are begging to take off teir blindfolds and see the truth?

    I am amazed that for centuries so many people have been led into the shadows by false preachings.

  • Posted By: LuckyRon @ 10/19/2007 7:23:12 PM

    Posted By: goodnewsforcatholics @ 10/19/2007 5:06:17 PM
    Comment: as crazy as it sounds, the bible actually calls the Catholic church a harlot (whore) ... the bible identifies this church as the one that sits on seven hills (Rome). (Rev 18:4-5 NIV) Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; {5} for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. Anyone heard of the Inquisition?

    Is it possible people are beginning to take off their blindfolds and see the truth?

    I am amazed that for generations men and women have been led into the shodows by false preachings.

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