Vatican Denies Gay Blackmail Rumors
February 24, 2013
The Vatican on Saturday accused the Italian media of spreading "false
and damaging" reports in what it condemned as a deplorable attempt to
influence cardinals who will meet in a secret conclave next month to
elect a new pope.
Since Pope Benedict announced his resignation on Feb. 11, Italian newspapers have been full of rumors about conspiracies, secret reports and lobbies in the Vatican that they say pushed the pope to abdicate, including a rumor that involved a shadowy "gay lobby" within the Vatican.
CNN Senior Vatican Analyst John Allen, who is also a correspondent with the National Catholic Reporter, cautioned that such unsourced speculation should be taken with a grain of salt.
While Allen said he doesn't know for sure whether a network based on sexual orientation was investigated by the Vatican, he said "frankly, it would be a little surprising if they hadn't" — given past scandals that have come to light.
Since Pope Benedict announced his resignation on Feb. 11, Italian newspapers have been full of rumors about conspiracies, secret reports and lobbies in the Vatican that they say pushed the pope to abdicate, including a rumor that involved a shadowy "gay lobby" within the Vatican.
CNN Senior Vatican Analyst John Allen, who is also a correspondent with the National Catholic Reporter, cautioned that such unsourced speculation should be taken with a grain of salt.
While Allen said he doesn't know for sure whether a network based on sexual orientation was investigated by the Vatican, he said "frankly, it would be a little surprising if they hadn't" — given past scandals that have come to light.