Pope admits existence of ‘gay lobby’ in Vatican
12 Jun 2013 12:38 AM GMT
Pope Francis has admitted the existence of a ‘gay lobby’ inside the Vatican’s secretive administration, the Roman Curia, allegedly exposed during a leaks scandal, according to a Latin American Catholic website.
Back in February Italian media claimed a secret report by cardinals investigating the leaks included allegations of corruption and blackmail attempts against gay Vatican clergymen, and on the other hand, favouritism based on gay relationships.
‘In the Curia, there are truly some saints, but there is also a current of corruption,’ the pope is quoted as having said during an audience last week with CLAR (Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious Men and Women). ‘There is talk of a ‘gay lobby’ and it’s true, it exists. We have to see what can be done,’ the 76-year-old pontiff is quoted as saying on the Reflection and Liberation website, which was flagged up by religious news agencies on Tuesday.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said; ‘It was a private meeting, I have no comment to make. The secret report compiled by a committee of three cardinals for the pope’s eyes only was the result of a broad inquiry into leaks of secret Vatican papers last year, a scandal known as ‘Vatileaks’.
The cardinals questioned dozens of Vatican officials and presented the pope with their final report in December 2012.
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