Vatican Attacks Coverage of Italy Sex Abuse Cases

I have to laugh at the disingenuousness of the Vatican's crocodile tears. Based on what has been discovered about the Church's payment of hush money and intimidation in other countries, why should Italy be any different. Hey, if the pattern fits, why should the media not be able to discuss it. Oh, I forgot, the Vatican is opposing gay rights in Italy and, if the Church is shown to be morally bankrupt, the populace might not heed their dictates any longer. Here's part of a Washington Post Story:

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican's top diplomat accused the media of "shameful and mystifying" coverage of allegations of sexual abuse by Italian priests and suggested there might be a campaign against the Church. Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone took aim at reporting of a probe by Turin prosecutors into clergy accused of paying a 24-year-old man to keep quiet about past abuse.

A separate investigation involves accusations of abuse by one of Italy's best-known priests, 82-year-old Pietro Gelmini. In comments to Vatican radio published on Tuesday, Bertone said he respected the work of the prosecutors but criticized the media for paying so much attention to unproven accusations that he said warped the image of the Roman Catholic Church.

La Stampa newspaper, which has led coverage of the investigations, defended its work. "La Stampa has put out news that has been shown to be true, and ... given it prominence," said La Stampa director Giulio Anselmi, in comments published in Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Thousands of victims in the USA alone and settlement payments in excess of $2 billion, and the Vatican is worried about a warped image of the Church? These old closet queens are incredible in their disingenuousness.

Meanwhile, check out this story in the New York Times: New Accusations Against Priest Convicted of Sexual Abuse (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/22/us/22priest.html?_r=1&oref=slogin)