Vatican Denies Report That Cardinal Was Moved To Hide Scandal
The Vatican officially denies a report from an Italian newspaper that Pope Benedict XVI shuttled a senior official off to Latin America to keep him quite from some sordid secrets he may have known.
Some reports hinted that the pope’s decision to promote Monsignor Ettore Balestrero to a post in Colombia was in effect to keep the man quiet, Reuters reported.
The Vatican denies those reports, however. A spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, said the suggestion that Balestrero was moved to keep him quiet was “absurd, totally without foundation.” He said the decision to move Balestrero was made weeks ago, but wasn’t announced until Colombian officials approved it.
The Colombia post is coveted within the Vatican network, as Bogota is the headquarters of an umbrella group for all bishops conferences in South America.
Pope Benedict XVI announced that he will retire at the end of February, citing his age and ailing health. But reports from Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper say that the resignation was related to the leaks of secret documents last year that showed infighting over the running of the Vatican’s bank. Balestrero was allegedly named in the report of the scandal.
Even more insidious scandals have been hinted. Sources say that a group of gay Vatican officials were being blackmailed about details of their network. La Repubblica reported that this group met for sexual encounters in “a villa outside the Italian capital, a sauna in a Rome suburb, a beauty parlour in the centre, and a former university residence that was in use by a provincial Italian archbishop.”
The Vatican has not confirmed nor denied that report.
“Neither the cardinals’ commission nor I will make comments to confirm or deny the things that are said about this matter. Let each one assume his or her own responsibilities. We shall not be following up on the observations that are made about this,” Lombardi said, according to the German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
Though it is not commenting on the rumor in specific, the Vatican denies any reports that Pope Benedict resigned for reasons other than his health.


![Wolf Blitzer Asks Atheist If She ‘Thanked God’ After Surviving Tornado In Oklahoma [Video]](http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Oklahoma-Tornado-Victims-Reunited-With-Pets-And-Photos-100x100.jpg)
![Pauly D Shows Off His New Hair, Twitter Weighs In [Photo]](http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Pauly-D-New-Hair-100x100.jpg)







![Cameron D’Ambrosio Teen Terror Rapper Held On Million Dollar Bond [Video]](http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/cameron-dambrosio-teen-terror-rapper-arrest1-100x100.jpg)







![Lance West, Vet Oklahoma Reporter, Breaks Down In Tears Live [Video]](http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Plaza-Towers-school-100x100.jpeg)
Feb 24, 2013
yet my father in the 1950's was kicked out of his beloved religion when he got a divorce not because he wanted to but because his then wife got knocked up by another man. She forced the divorce causing my Dad to get kicked out and spend the rest of his life crying at functions held in a Catholic church. Broke my Dad's heart and now it come to light what type of person cast judgement on my Dad. In a way I wish my Dad lived long enough to see what these people really are like, or would that have broken his heart more?
Feb 24, 2013
"to keep him quite": The correct word here is quiet, NOT quite. "Quiet" has to do with the absence of sound or not speaking. "Quite" has nothing whatsoever to do with sound or speaking.
Feb 24, 2013
I can see that go on in the vatican, they let so called priest molest children and do nothing but move them to new Countries so they can do it all over again. They smoke, drink and then site Bible verses to make to make amends when they really don't care.
Feb 24, 2013
…corruption everywhere…
Feb 24, 2013
Many Bible scholars down through the ages have referred to the RC Church as being the "Mystery Babylon, The Great" mentioned in the Book of Revelation. One statement there says it has become the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. The command is given to "Come out of her, my people!"
Feb 24, 2013
That's true Charles
Feb 24, 2013
Do you really think they would admit to it?
Feb 24, 2013
I don't care what they do long as it was with consenting adults and no children involved.
Feb 24, 2013
The church in unraveling fast and the millions of Catholics are again asked to believe their lies. I hope they go down iin flames for the crimes they have perpetrated on children.
Feb 24, 2013
To my fellow Catholics…..not one cardinal has the moral and spiritual ability to discern what God wants. Omerte is their vow. Ambition and appearances dictate decisions. If we genuinely want to be People of God, there is no need to rush the process for the election of a Pope. Things are done in God's time. This is the time to tear down and build up. The leadership (administration is more like it) of the institutional church comes straight out of Tom Waits, "God's Away on Business."
"I'd sell your heart to the junkman, baby.
For a buck, for a buck.
If you're looking for someone to pull you out of that ditch.
You're out of luck, you're out of luck.
Ship is sinking.
The ship is sinking.
The ship is sinking.
There's a leak, there's a leak in the boiler room.
The poor, the lame, the blind.
Who are the ones that we kept in charge?
Killers, thieves, and lawyers.
God's away, God's away.
God's away on business, business.
God's away, God's away.
God's away on business, business".
It's time to grow up and remedy the situation instead of wringing our hands and crying out where is God? We need to push the killers, thieves and lawyers aside and pull the poor, the lame and the blind to safety.
Feb 24, 2013
My, my…aren't you erudite, Charles…
Feb 24, 2013
Sex, power and money, the real Holy Trinity of the church. "Do as we say, not as we do", it's really the only way, so to speak….
Sorry your dad had to go through that!
Feb 24, 2013
First rule of engagement is denial.
Feb 25, 2013
Doesn't the Vatican deny rumors first and never ask questions later, just transfer the Priest or Cardinal somewhere else! It's their M.O.
Feb 25, 2013
“absurd, totally without foundation.” Unfortunately there is a very solid foundation of the church doing this very thing for decades…that we know of. When has blatant lying become a popular communications tool for the church? Serious dysfunction if they do not realize they are accountable and still trying to sweep every scandal under their little red cardinal caps. Very sad for Catholics. We need to replace all of these shady cardinals, those who remain need therapy for their sociopathic attitudes and maybe then we can move forward. The truth is NOT going to go away no matter how much they want us to believe the Emperor is wearing cloths.
Feb 25, 2013
maybe all this is true but I still believe in the son of god jesus christ and if it is true all these idiots will pay for what they have done.
Mar 3, 2013
Go to reformation.com if you think scandels are only in the Catholic Church…There you'll see all the pedifiles,adulters,homosexuality and other scandels among the protestant ministers of ALL denominations,Lutherans,Methodists,Baptists,Penticostals and so called Born Again's…So check out your own back yard before you start throwing stones at the Catholics…Show me a Church where there's no sinners.
Mar 3, 2013
To all you Catholic bashers, Check out reformation.com if you think scandels in churches is just a Catholic thing.There you'll see 100's of reports of pedophiles, adulterers, homosexuality and more among the ministers in ALL denominations including Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Penticostals,"non denominational born agains"etc, etc, you'll even see reports of these churches hiding these scandels.So before you start throwing stones at Catholics and think your church is perfect and without sin, I sugest you look into your own backyard first.
Mar 3, 2013
I think all religion is with sin
Mar 3, 2013
All mankind is with sin…It's our fallen nature.
Mar 3, 2013
cant judge religion and the people that follow it
Mar 4, 2013
You're not suggesting that only the religous are sinners are you?