THE VATICAN BANK AND BUTLER SCANDALS - ARE THEY CONNECTED ?............

News of the Pope's butler pilfering papers and sensitive documents from the papal residence and releasing them to the Italian media, including for use in a newly published book on intrigues and interactions within the Vatican, has resulted this week in the detention of Paolo Gabriele, Pope Benedict XVI's personal butler.  The Varican press spokesperson, Reverend Federico Lombardi, countered reporting in the Italian media that the butler could not have been alone in leaking confidential correspondence, saying they are, "unfounded speculations", that were causing the church harm.  To the assertion in the press that a Vatican Cardinal might also be involved, Lombardi declared, "here is no cardinal under suspicion".  At a news conference the New York Times reported was, "hastily convened", Rev. Lombardi stated, "It is painful to see such a negative image", that "put trust in the church and the Holy See to the test".  Adding, "That's why we must confront them directly and not hide".  The scandal dubbed, "Vatileaks", in the media, and the arrest of butler Gabriele, for illegal possession of confidential correspondence; is the most recent incident of ongoing public dissemination of documents in clashes and conflicts that have been occurring within the Vatican for some time now. Charges of internal corruption and cronyism have also been alledged.  The arrest of the papal butler on these charges comes shortly after the Board of Directors of the Vatican Bank, dismissed the Bank President, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, which according to a Vatican Bank memorandum released by the Italian media accusing him of, "failing to do his job, acting erratically, and not attending board meetings".  Ir is reported that the board members think Tedeschi may himself, have leaked some of the documents in question.  Paolo Gabriele has served as Pope Benedict's butler for six years.  One of his lawyers has said he will "cooperate fully" with Italiamn magistrates in the investigation of the documents that were leaked to the media, a number of which are included in a newly published book, which indicates that among them are documents Gabriele may not have had access to, as not all of them came across the Pope's desk............Fr.  Troy