The Vatican announced that after being informed by U.S. officials of a possible breach of child pornography laws on the part of a Holy See diplomat, it has recalled the priest in question and an investigation has been opened.
According to a September 15 Vatican communiqué, on August 21 the U.S. State Department notified the Vatican Secretariat of State, “through diplomatic channels, of a possible violation of laws relating to child pornography images by a member of the diplomatic corps of the Holy See accredited to Washington.”
The priest was recalled and is currently in Vatican City. Information regarding the findings of the U.S. State Department was passed along to the Vatican’s Promoter of Justice, who opened an investigation “and has already commenced international collaboration to obtain elements relative to the case.”
The Vatican declined to identify the diplomat, or confirm his nationality. CNA contacted the apostolic nunciature in Washington D.C. for further details, but they declined to comment. According to the Associated Press, the U.S. State Department had asked the Vatican to lift the priest’s diplomatic immunity, but the request was denied. This is typical church behavior toward its leaders and priests. The priest will likely face a canonical proceeding, overseen by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and a criminal trial overseen by the courts of the Vatican City State.
Vatican law establishes six possible penalties of hefty fines and prison time, for those found guilty of either staging, trading or offering child pornography to others.
While the book of Revelation explains the spiritual significance of the abominations found in the Catholic Church, the spiritual abominations also translate into practical ones as well.
“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.” Revelation 17:4.
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Vatican recalls priest from US as child porn investigation opens