$30M seized from a Vatican Bank Account

[malaise]

http://www.usatoday.com/money/world/2010-09-21-vatican-bank_N.htm
<snip>
Just when the Catholic Church didn't need another scandal, Italian authorities have seized 23 million euros ($30.2 million) from a Vatican bank account and begun investigating top officials of the Vatican bank in connection with a money laundering probe.

The Vatican said Tuesday it is "perplexed and surprised" by the investigation.

Italian financial police seized the money as a precaution Tuesday and prosecutors placed the Vatican bank's director general and its chairman — a man who speaks frequently about morality in financing — under investigation for alleged mistakes linked to violations of Italy's anti-laundering laws, news reports said.

The is probe not the first time the bank — formally known as the Institute for Religious Works— has faced trouble. In the 1980s, it was involved in a major scandal that resulted in a banker being found hanging from Blackfriars Bridge in London.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. K/R

[hlthe2b]

2. I have to admit a little schadenfreude at their corruption coming to

light. I am not anti-Catholicism by any means, but I have little respect for the corrupt, misogynistic, bigoted, and arcane Vatican hierarchy.

[NightWatcher]

3. surprised that it's a police investigation not about molestation....for once

[Gin]

4. all the little old ladies that give and give to the "holy father"

god that ticks me off....my mother was one of them until she died.

[formercia]

12. I used to get a box of 52 envelopes every year when i was a boy.

They expected us to give every Sunday. People would look at you if you didn't. I used to smile when I dropped mine in the collection basket, knowing it was empty.

[TlalocW]

5. It would be nice if this were somehow punishment for their pedophile sins

But if they're committing other crimes - which isn't surprising - then this is good too. Money is all they really care about so this will hurt them.

TlalocW

[rocktivity]

6. In all fairness, the Vatican was "perplexed and surprised"

by THAT investigation as well.

:eyes:
rocktivity

[Missy Vixen]

7. This may be the thing that brings the house down

IMHO, YMMV.

[Hannah Bell]

8. i see most commenters clueless. rival gangs of capital. one gang getting bolder.

the strategy of both is to deflect attention from their gang wars into concern over "pedophile priests" & the like.

both gangs = murderers & perverts.

[malaise]

9. Indeed they are all the same people

Fugg all of them

[Ian David]

10. They'll have to sell a painting now. n/t

[SpiralHawk]

11. Ahhh - the Vatican has a wicked bad case of Republicon Family Values

As usual.