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Vatican Bank, corrupt to the core

God’s Racket: Why It’s High Time to Shut Down the Vatican Bank

Lynn Stuart Parramore opened my eyes. With such a sordid history, why isn't Vatican Bank corruption common knowledge?

The Institute for Works of Religion, commonly known as the Vatican bank, was set up in 1942 by Pope Pius XII to manage the vast Vatican finances. Often referred to as the world’s most secret bank, the operation is run by a CEO and overseen by five cardinals who report directly to the Pope.

The bank’s official role is to safeguard and administer property intended for works of religion or charity. The actual activities of the bank are somewhat different. They include money laundering for narcotics traffickers, bribery, skimming charitable funds to enrich priests, and tax evasion for wealthy Italians.

The scandals associated with the Vatican bank, particularly over the last four decades, are so sordid and improbable as to strain the creativity of a supermarket tabloid.

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Permalink Reply by Steph S. on February 28, 2013 at 5:28pm

I think the Catholic Church keeps this information hidden or covered up so that their followers don't hear about it. They have so many scandals - why can't they see?

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Permalink Reply by Lillie on February 28, 2013 at 5:41pm

"as to strain the creativity of a supermarket tabloid." Love it.

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Permalink Reply by Lillie on February 28, 2013 at 5:46pm

Pope Benedict has just moved into a palace even more luxurious than the Vatican. Apparently, it was confiscated by the church in the 1500's from a wealthy Italian family.

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Permalink Reply by Napoleon Bonaparte on February 28, 2013 at 6:58pm

.......and yet all these adoring worshippers in the Vatican square today. How can they be so naive ?

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Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on February 28, 2013 at 7:03pm

Either they don't know or they don't WANT to know. Too many of them are desperately trying to maintain the fragile illusion of the perfection of a church which is anything but perfect. The house of cards is collapsing about them and yet they want to believe that the house still stands.

It is because they are purposefully, systematically, insistently DELUSIONAL.