We’ve all heard tales of Catholic priests whose alleged misconduct has led to their reassignment from one church to another, but where exactly do they go?
A recent move by Pope Francis to investigate a so-called “black sheep” diocese suggests that perhaps the current place to party with disgraced priests is in northern Italy.
According to news reports, an “apostolic administrator” will be sent by the Pope to probe the possible wrongdoings of a diocese run by a bishop suspected of specifically seeking out clerics with checkered pasts or priests-in-training who have been kicked out of seminaries.
Among the scandalous accusations being hurled at members of the Albenga-Imperia diocese are sexual harassment of churchgoers, unabashed gay cohabitation, and expropriation of church donations. In addition, some of the “playboy priests,” as the media has labeled them, are alleged to have moonlighted as bartenders, gotten tattoos, engaged in bodybuilding, and posted naked photos of themselves on gay websites.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
According to one of the region’s local newspapers, this much-gossipped-about diocese has for the past quarter of a century been lorded over by Bishop Mario Oliveri, 70, who — despite not being directly accused of misconduct — will be soon be relieved of his duties.
Oliveri, who reportedly defended one parish priest who was convicted of sexually abusing an altar boy, has declined to comment on the investigation, as has a Vatican spokesperson. However, since his March 2013 appointment, Pope Francis has demonstrated a zero-tolerance approach to handling senior figures in the church who trespass, including authorizing the recent removal of a German bishop who was accused of spending 31 million euros of the church’s money on his private residence.
While we can’t condone crimes against children or the outright theft of funds, a religious order that promotes cocktails, tattoos, bodybuilding and pornography involving consensual adults doesn’t sound half bad. Rather than disciplining the priests of Albenga-Imperia, perhaps the church should allow them to break free and form their own gay-friendly sect. It might just be divine.
Billy Budd
There is hipocrisy, there is extreme hipocrisy and then there is the catholic church. No limits.
jwtraveler
Better to fuck each other than the children in their congregations.
Leonard Woodrow
What’s the problem? If two young guys want to get together for sex, and the only harm it does is to make other members of their religion jealous, it’s fine!
transiteer
Religion is just show business interested in power over people, and money. That’s all.
Lance Mullholland
@Billy Budd: There already ARE “other sects” of GLBT friendly Catholics. CACINA Catholics, Old Catholics, Liberal Catholics.
Put down your pitchforks and torches for a few minutes, and look those up.
Hypocrites? Priests should do better, (and celibacy is a gift the priest he gives to God, not a punishment – the press never gets this right).
I work with hypocrites, shop with hypocrites, exercise at the gym with hypocrites. I go to mass with hypocrites – I’ve never let being gay scare me away from my spiritual life or turn me into a hater of good things.
The church is holy, and the people inside it are striving for holiness – it’s a hospital for sinners. Some get well and better, some make it a quest for the rest.
Such is the human condition.
Bauhaus
@Lance Mullholland:
No Lance, you are holy, people are holy.
The church is an abomination.
Priests should do better? How, exactly?
Being gay has nothing to do with being spiritual, or striving for holiness; why or how could it get in your way?
Your conscience, your soul, your personal relationship with god, is that not a hospital for sinners?
The Catholic Church is a hospice for sinners, Lance.
salex
is it possible if they stop attempting to shame the soul they than can lead their life whatever it may be.