Pope Francis fires all but one Cardinal Running Vatican Bank

[cbayer]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/01/16/1270065/-Pope-Francis-fires-all-but-one-Cardinal-Running-Vatican-Bank?detail=facebook#

THU JAN 16, 2014 AT 07:14 AM PST

He did so as they were 11 months into a 5 year term. We have been waiting for actions like this.

I think we all know there won't be a lot of change in the catholic church re abortion (even though his belief that it shouldn't be a priority is pretty major imo) and for those of us who really like this pope we do so seeing the flaws as well. Women will be another issue but one i hope to see slow change in during his reign. However in other areas he has been a breath of fresh air and now he is starting to clean up the corruption in the bank.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/pope-francis-shakes-up-vatican-bank-sets-financial-cap-for-sainthood/2014/01/15/2ecf5d20-7e21-11e3-97d3-b9925ce2c57b_story.html

Francis’ move essentially undid a decree issued last year by his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who confirmed the Vatican Bank’s supervisory body for another five years, just days before announcing his retirement. The most high-profile figure sacked on Wednesday was Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Benedict’s secretary of state and the face of administrative woes of Benedict’s papacy.

more at link

[Brettongarcia]

1. The issues? Rumor sez it had to do with bank backing arms deals?

[cbayer]

3. Hadn't heard that, but I think it's rotten all the way through and glad

to see that he took this step.

The WaPo article talks of corruption, money laundering, smuggling, and incompetence.

[trotsky]

5. Seems to be a real lack of details.

Those eager to pin all their hopes on Bergoglio assume it's a progressive step, but what do we know? I'd like to see more details before drawing any conclusions.

[JNelson6563]

2. This is a very big deal.

And more than a symbolic sign of change. I look forward to seeing who he appoints. That will be telling.

Julie

[cbayer]

4. Here is a partial list.

Among the new appointees: Vatican Secretary of State and Cardinal-designate Pietro Parolin; Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn from Vienna; Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto; and veteran diplomat Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello, a close friend of the pontiff’s.

I don't know anything about them, but I am sure more details will be forthcoming.

He fired some people that I am sure thought they were set for life.

[Act_of_Reparation]

6. Bertone got in bank president Ernst von Freybyurg's way

Last edited Fri Jan 17, 2014, 01:58 PM - Edit history (1)

Von Freyburg wanted to close "potentially dangerous" embassy accounts (meaning, accounts used for laundering money), but Parolin's people blocked the move, citing potential diplomatic consequences.

[cbayer]

7. The only thing I can find is that the accounts were closed.

Do you have another source?

http://www.wantedinrome.com/news/2002624/vatican-bank-closes-four-embassy-accounts.html

[Act_of_Reparation]

13. Crap. Flubbed that one up.

It isn't Parolin who got in the way, but his predecessor, Bertone. I'll change the subject line to reflect that.

I haven't found any other articles confirming or denying the one I already posted. I did, however, find the same article published in a few different outlets, including the BBC. In any event, the accounts may very well have been closed since the article was first run. The point I was trying to make was that the Vatican is a web of intrigue of George R.R. Martin-like proportions.

[cbayer]

17. Ah, now I don't feel so crazy, lol.

No worries. I've made the mistake myself…. many times.

It is a web of intrigue. The member who posts here and has the best take on it is dimbear, imo. He really should write a novel.

[dimbear]

18. Would still be pleased to see the whole shebang closed permanently, the Swiss would welcome the

accounts which are not really massive on a world scale. The best fix, but part credit for this reboot.

[cbayer]

19. I'd be happy to see it returned to it's supposed original mission,

which, if I understand correctly is to manage the funds used for charities.

Perhaps something more along the lines of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.

[cbayer]

8. Another link on this. I can't find anything to support what you are saying.

Not saying it didn't happen, I just can't find it.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:GmWp5sScVLoJ:vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/ior-ior-ior-30713/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=mx&client=safari

[Brettongarcia]

10. An earlly, somewhat informative link from Forbes c. 2012

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/06/26/the-vatican-bank-the-most-secret-bank-in-the-world/

[cbayer]

11. Oh, there is no question that there are massive problems, but I was

curious about the information that Parolin blocked reform. That article doesn't mention him.

[hrmjustin]

9. Cardinal Bertone is a walking scandal.

[cbayer]

12. Glad he is getting rid of him.

[hrmjustin]

14. He was a horrible Sec of State for the Vatican.

[Brettongarcia]

15. Finding out where the money is; a prelude to suing the church for abuse, etc.?

THE CHURCH'S LEGAL STATUS, LEGAL ACTIONS; SOME RANDOM NOTES Possibly, if memory serves, Bush II administration recognized the Vatican more fully as a "state" that therefore can't be sued. Priests are not "foreign agents" though, that need to register as such.

Regarding sexual abuse suits specifically: US courts in Philly JUST ruled that Catholic officials were not directly responsible for overlooking/enabling abuse. But on a technicality, peculiar to Philly law?

Last I heard, Cardinal Bernard Law was still in the Vatican, and cannot come back to the US; because he was slated to be arrested for pederastygate coverup. Or is seven years up already?

Other longrange issues include suing the Church for fraud, in promising giant miracles etc.. And for violation of the Lateran Treaty; that agreed that the Vatican would not interfere with Italian (and other?) governments.

There are some stories about Vatican ties as major investor in failed Italian bank (in the 80's?)

[Act_of_Reparation]

16. I don't think so

Cleaning up the bank is an absolute must, from an administrative perspective. This is the well from which they water Catholic schools, hospitals, clerical orders and charities. If it's tied up moving money illegally, then it can't function as designed... especially when one considers any money tucked away in foreign banks is subject to freezing or seizure if the host country gets a whiff of corruption (which is precisely what Italy did, to the tune of $23 million, when the laundering scandal broke in 2012).

It's like running a restaurant you know has rats. The rats eat your food and no one wants to eat at your restaurant... because it has rats.

Sex abuse lawsuits, on the other hand, have almost always been at the diocesan level. While the Vatican is notoriously secretive about how its churches are funded, and where all the money goes, American dioceses and archdioceses are largely self-funded. If they were slapped with a lawsuit, the Vatican would no doubt expect that they pay out of their own pockets, unless the situation were dire.