http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23094320

A senior Italian cleric has been arrested in connection with an inquiry into the Vatican bank scandal over allegations of corruption and fraud.

Monsignor Nunzio Scarano works in the Vatican's financial administration. A secret service agent and a financial broker have also been arrested.

Read more: http://www.ucanews.com/news/monsignor-arrested-in-vatican-bank-probe/68636

Pope's Reform Path: Francis Shakes Up Church Establishment

By Hans-Jürgen Schlamp in Rome

It appears Pope Francis truly wants to change the Catholic Church. He's reforming the Vatican Bank first, but he's also circumventing the old guard wherever he can. The establishment is up in arms.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/pope-francis-looks-at-vatican-bank-and-beyond-for-reforms-a-909308.html#js-article-comments-box-pager

I think many non-Catholics, who may not have been aware of the Jesuit order, are beginning to see why the election of a Jesuit both thrilled and scared so many people within the church.

Francis: church shouldn't fear structural renewal

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis called for structural renewal in the Catholic church to keep up with the times, although he counseled future priests and nuns Saturday to shun costly trappings like the latest smartphones and fancy cars so they can devote more resources to help the poor.

Francis has been waging a campaign to root out corruption and power plays in the Vatican's bureaucracy and to keep sight of what is essential in the church he was elected in March to lead. His remarks in two appearances Saturday drew on his determination to forge what he likes to call a "poor church."

http://news.yahoo.com/francis-church-shouldnt-fear-structural-renewal-170027465.html

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/new-vatican-secretary-of-state-may-be-appointed-soon/

It is quite normal for a new pope to appoint a new 'slate' of senior officials in Vatican posts. What is not so normal is that Pope Francis' choices are unexpected, i.e.not the old guard under a new guise.

This rumour was published by the official Catholic News Agency on June 28, but has still not been confirmed.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/popes-legal-changes-respond-to-globalization-of-crime/

The Pope has updated the Vatican legal system including, among other things, laws concerning child abuse.

While it's easy to say this should have been done a long while ago, at least it is being done now. This Pope is not letting things slide.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/popes-legal-changes-respond-to-globalization-of-crime/

The Pope has updated the Vatican legal system including, among other things, laws concerning child abuse.

While it's easy to say this should have been done a long while ago, at least it is being done now. This Pope is not letting things slide.

As the man charged with cleaning out the stables at the scandal-struck Vatican bank, Monsignor Battista Ricca will need Machiavellian cunning, good fortune and a whiter-than-white record to have even a fighting chance.

But Pope Franciss new banker appears to possess none of these attributes after it was reported yesterday that he was found stuck in a lift with a rent boy. Msgr Ricca, as Franciss new primate with responsibility for the troubled financial institution, known officially as the IoR (Institute for Religious Works), is supposed to usher in new transparency and badly needed reforms after years of financial scandal.

[...]

But there were more problems for Ricca when he was attacked in a cruising ground that year, and soon after firemen had to rescue him from a broken lift, in which he was trapped with a youth known by local police. The weekly news magazine LEspresso claims that Msgr Ricca was able to get the position as IoR prelate because the supposedly powerful gay lobby in the Vatican airbrushed his colourful CV.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/popes-bank-cleanup-man-found-stuck-in-lift-with-rent-boy-8721296.html

And for a bit of fun one of those stories which is not true but certainly could be...

VATICAN CITY Few eyebrows were raised last week when Pope Francis brought the Vaticans legal system up to date by criminalizing leaks of official information and formalizing laws against sex crimes. But now that the laws have been made public, a closer look revealed that the pope has made it illegal to report sex crimes against children.

According to the new laws, revealing or receiving confidential Vatican information is now punishable by up to two years in prison, while newly defined sex crimes against children carry a sentence of up to twelve years. Because all sex crimes are kept confidential, there is no longer a legal way for Vatican officials to report sex crimes.

[...]

Mamberti says plans are already being made to eliminate the loophole, but change often comes slowly to antiquated Vatican law, which is based on the 1889 Italian code. Were not going to let a dangerous law like this stand, but people need to understand that this is the Vatican, and there is a process here. Voting, incense, prayer. We ask the minors at risk to please be patient with us.

http://www.newslo.com/pope-criminalizes-the-reporting-of-sex-crimes/

For the gay banker, see http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/new-vatican-bank-official-reportedly-part-of-gay-lobby/.

The significance of this is that the Vatican did not try to hide the facts, as it is so often accused of doing. (The Independent's story is dated three days after the Vatican's article)

The story which notmyself says is not true.... is not true, so I don't think it needs discussing.

Pope Francis "not liberal.... but open to dialogue".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/19/pope-francis-reformer-yet-conservative?

An interesting article on the impact the new Pope is making.

On this morning's BBC Radio 5 there was an interview with a representative of a group of American RC priests who are trying to get rid of an Archbishop who is accused of protecting and not dismissing a disgraced priest found guilty of offences against children. This has been referred to the Vatican, but no progress so far.

On this morning's BBC Radio 5 there was an interview with a representative of a group of American RC priests who are trying to get rid of an Archbishop who is accused of protecting and not dismissing a disgraced priest found guilty of offences against children. This has been referred to the Vatican, but no progress so far.

I am sure there are still plenty of cases like this. One man can't do everything (even popes only perform miracles after they're dead). This pope has appointed a commission to make recommendations on the reform of the Curia, which is due to report in October, I think. (I did see a reference in an article otherwise fairly impartial about the last two years of Benedict's papacy being dysfunctional)

Pope Francis charms everybody, and I think this leads people to expect too much of him. Better to be charming, though, than reserved (like Benedict XVI), or rather dictatorial, as I thought John Paul II was.

The significance of this is that the Vatican did not try to hide the facts, as it is so often accused of doing.

My dear Sir, what have you done?

Harold Shipman

Harold Fredrick Shipman(14 January 1946 – 13 January 2004) was a British doctor and one of the most prolific serial killers in recorded history by proven murders with 250+ murders being positively ascribed to him.

Notice that 'accused' is missing, as is anything similar. The Vatican has repeatedly been shown to hide facts 250+ times so to use 'as it is so often accused of doing' instead of something along the lines of 'as is often the case' is in my view dishonest.

The story which notmyself says is not true.... is not true, so I don't think it needs discussing.

Other than how such a body is able to push so firmly on the boundary of the ridiculous time and time again.

Pope Francis has said gay people should not be marginalised but integrated into society.

Gay people ARE part of society and always have been so using 'integrated' ignores the CC's long effort to attempt to make it otherwise. Nothing short of insulting. It reminds me of something I heard years back which went something like... Religion: Giving hope in a world torn apart by religion.

"If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge them?"

Progress of a sort?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23489702

VATICAN CITY—Following Pope Francis’ tolerant remarks Sunday about homosexuals and the Catholic Church, Vatican officials reportedly went into crisis mode, announcing that the Pope’s thoughtful message of understanding was clearly taken out of context. “It is not the official stance of the Pope or the Catholic Church that all people of good will who seek the Lord, especially gay people, should be accepted by Christ,” a visibly nervous Vatican spokesman told reporters, adding that the Holy Father was clearly tired after his long trip to Brazil and never meant for his comments to sound caring or realistic.

[..]

I assure you we are just as prejudiced and backward today as we were yesterday.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/vatican-quickly-performs-damage-control-on-popes-t,33292/

Funny, isn't it, notmyself, how you manage to make every piece of news about the Church sound negative!

Pope Francis said, "Who am I to judge gay people?" What he said, when you read the rest of the article, is nothing new (he still makes the apparently illogical assertion that it is fine to feel gay, but you mustn't do anything about it).

What is there is a new humanity contrasting favourably with Benedict's rigidity. This is hopeful, but is not going to lead to any big changes.

The Vatican News Agency's report on this press conference is here:-

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-gives-surprising-in-flight-press-conference/

I have been pretty disappointed with the Catholic Church after everything that has come out, but, so far, I admire this new Pope. Traveling around in the open as he has been doing really takes some balls.

Would anyone be shocked if this Pope is gay? I wouldn't, and it was the first thing I thought when I read the BBC headline.

I also admire how he is conducting himself, I think he could be the man to set the Church on the right path again.

I would be shocked. They have gossip. They would have known and not made him Papa.

I would be shocked. They have gossip. They would have known and not made him Papa.

There's no satisfying you, Jingthing, is there? Don't worry.... I don't think it'll happen!

As Popes go, this one is the cat's meow. But there is only so far Popes go.

Funny, isn't it, notmyself, how you manage to make every piece of news about the Church sound negative!

The news itself is negative IB, as you point out "he still makes the apparently illogical assertion that it is fine to feel gay, but you mustn't do anything about it". Pope Insanity IX takes a small step with "Who am I to judge gay people?", this could be considered progress of a kind but why not go the fully Monty and ask who is he to judge anyone and any thing?

What is there is a new humanity contrasting favourably with Benedict's rigidity. This is hopeful, but is not going to lead to any big changes.

Aside from a new name on the door, the only change is to that of the demeanour of a fellow primate. It can been seen in just a simple snap shot such as the photo in the link you provided. He looks like a snitch from Miami Vice while the last pope did not.

Funny, isn't it, notmyself, how you manage to make every piece of news about the Church sound negative!

Pope Francis said, "Who am I to judge gay people?" What he said, when you read the rest of the article, is nothing new (he still makes the apparently illogical assertion that it is fine to feel gay, but you mustn't do anything about it).

......

This is surely the standard interpretation of Leviticus.

There are edicts to 'love thy neighbour', etc., and there is the statement that 'for a man to lie with a man as if with a woman' is an abomination.

In other words love the human being but condemn aberrant behaviour.

This, as far as I know, has always been the attitude of orthodox christianity, orthodox islam and orthodox judaism, whatever branch or sect one claims to belong to.

I have been pretty disappointed with the Catholic Church after everything that has come out, but, so far, I admire this new Pope. Traveling around in the open as he has been doing really takes some balls.

Balls? What does he have to be afraid of... death? You would have thought he would be positively looking forward to it with untold finery, streets paved with gold and a never ending supply of young boys. Oh wait, he has that already in the only place that DOES count, the here and now. Whether a Pope mobile out of 'pimp my ride' with bullet proof glass or balls of steel it points to one thing and that is that Popes are the most afraid to die mfs on the planet.

Matthew 6:25-34

²⁹And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? ³¹Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ³²(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. ³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ³⁴Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Don't worry about tomorrow. Don't save money, don't store food for the winter, don't plan for retirement... live for today and trust that God will make everything work out. This is some of the worst advice in the entire sermon, and it seems that most everyone recognizes it, even if they pay lip service to it. In much the way that Christians typically ignore Jesus' instructions to sell their belongings and give them to the poor, we all ignore this inane instruction to live without concern for tomorrow.

http://wiki.ironchariots.org/index.php?title=Sermon_on_the_Mount#Treasures_in_heaven

I have been pretty disappointed with the Catholic Church after everything that has come out, but, so far, I admire this new Pope. Traveling around in the open as he has been doing really takes some balls.

Balls? What does he have to be afraid of... death?

Exactly.

I have been pretty disappointed with the Catholic Church after everything that has come out, but, so far, I admire this new Pope. Traveling around in the open as he has been doing really takes some balls.

Balls? What does he have to be afraid of... death?

Exactly.

I have been pretty disappointed with the Catholic Church after everything that has come out, but, so far, I admire this new Pope. Traveling around in the open as he has been doing really takes some balls.

Balls? What does he have to be afraid of... death?

Exactly.

I have been pretty disappointed with the Catholic Church after everything that has come out, but, so far, I admire this new Pope. Traveling around in the open as he has been doing really takes some balls.

Balls? What does he have to be afraid of... death?

Exactly.

I have been pretty disappointed with the Catholic Church after everything that has come out, but, so far, I admire this new Pope. Traveling around in the open as he has been doing really takes some balls.

Balls? What does he have to be afraid of... death?

Exactly.

I have been pretty disappointed with the Catholic Church after everything that has come out, but, so far, I admire this new Pope. Traveling around in the open as he has been doing really takes some balls.

Balls? What does he have to be afraid of... death?

Exactly.

This is surely the standard interpretation of Leviticus.

There are edicts to 'love thy neighbour', etc., and there is the statement that 'for a man to lie with a man as if with a woman' is an abomination.

In other words love the human being but condemn aberrant behaviour.

Hmmm condemn.

Leviticus 20:13 clearly states "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

Condemning people to death for their very nature.

This is surely the standard interpretation of Leviticus.

There are edicts to 'love thy neighbour', etc., and there is the statement that 'for a man to lie with a man as if with a woman' is an abomination.

In other words love the human being but condemn aberrant behaviour.

Hmmm condemn.

Leviticus 20:13 clearly states "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

Condemning people to death for their very nature.

In the old testament one can be put to death for a thousand different offences - that does not necessarily mean that the current Christian thinking has not progressed. Even moderate Muslims would protest against some aspects of Sharia Law, if they were implemented in the UK or US. We have ameliorated the punishments for many sins, but not necessarily 'cancelled' the sins themselves.

I do not decide the punishment, but I can follow the edicts set out in the religious tracts that relate to my background.

Vatican: Celibacy in Catholic Church open for discussion

The Vatican's new secretary of state said this week that clerical celibacy is open to discussion, signaling a shift in approach for the Roman Catholic Church under Pope Francis.

"Celibacy is not an institution but look, it is also true that you can discuss (it) because as you say this is not a dogma, a dogma of the church," Archbishop Pietro Parolin said in an interview with Venezuelan newspaper El Universal. "The efforts that the church made to keep ecclesiastical celibacy, to impose ecclesiastical celibacy, have to be taken into consideration. One cannot say simply that this belongs in the past."

Parolin, who was named Cardinal Secretary of State late last month, is considered the most powerful official at the Vatican after Pope Francis.

According to the National Catholic Reporter, Parolin's comments "are raising eyebrows" in Rome, "with some wondering if they herald looming changes in Catholic teaching and practice."

But Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See’s press office, told NBC News the comments were "in line with the teachings of the church."

http://news.yahoo.com/catholic-priest-celibacy-open-for-discussion-134722134.html