Former Swiss Guard commander confirms 'gay lobby' at Vatican
January 20, 2014
A former commandant of the Swiss Guard has confirmed the existence of an influential “gay lobby” within the Vatican.
“I know from personal experience that the gay lobby exists,” Elmar Mäder, who was head of the Swiss Guard from 2002 to 2008, told the Swiss weekly Schweiz am Sonntag. He was questioned about reports earlier this month, in which an unidentified member of the Swiss Guard had claimed that he had been the target of sexual advances made by a number of officials of the Roman Curia.
Mäder said that active homosexuals within the Vatican comprise a virtual “secret society.” He added that because they are more loyal to each other than to the Holy See, “it becomes a security risk.”
In June 2013, during a conversation with religious leaders from Latin America, Pope Francis alluded to the same problem while speaking about problems within the Roman Curia. “There is talk about a ‘gay lobby,’ and it’s true, that exists,” the Pope reportedly said.
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Further information:
- Storm sparked by Swiss Guard confirming Vatican 'gay lobby' (ANSA)
- X-Commandant Zwitserse Wacht Bevestigt Bestaan Homolobby in Vaticaan (Kerknet)
- Weekend roundup: The immigrant pope, Pius XII, the 'gay lobby', and a baby named Francis (National Catholic Reporter)
- Former Swiss Guard member claims prelates made advances (CWN, 1/6)
- Pope acknowledges 'gay lobby' influence in Vatican (CWN, 6/11/13)
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Posted by: nix898049 -
Jan. 21, 2014 12:08 PM ET USA
Could this be what the woman Bishop Sheen converted was speaking of? Prior to her conversion she had been used by the Communist party to destroy the Church by recruiting young members w/o vocations to enter seminaries. She told Bishop Sheen, "In 50 years you won't recognize the Catholic priesthood." If this isn't the result, it seems something very like it. Jesus, Mary & Joseph, I love you! Save souls.
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Posted by: normnuke -
Jan. 20, 2014 9:30 PM ET USA
Interesting that apparently I am not alone in thinking that the campaign against 'gossip' is really intended to silence those who speak to one another of the ,um, behavior we see in so many priests. Gossip is our only defense against predators. Parents have solemn obligations to protect their little boys.
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Posted by: ElizabethD -
Jan. 20, 2014 4:15 PM ET USA
I wonder if this is reason #1 why Pope Francis has spoken so much against gossip in his daily homilies.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Jan. 20, 2014 1:49 PM ET USA
Depressing but hardly surprising to anyone who followed closely the sodomite scandals in the Church here in the US. How else to explain that protests and even canonical cases sent to Rome never seemed to get so much as a response, negative or positive? I know this from personal experience.
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Posted by: Defender -
Jan. 20, 2014 12:22 PM ET USA
The prophecies of evil inside the Vatican have rung true. The question is, what's being done (if anything) about it? Upholding the Magisterium has just become more difficult.
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Posted by: bruno.cicconi7491 -
Jan. 20, 2014 12:19 PM ET USA
That's absolutely one of the most concerning things a Catholic can read.
