Goodbye Old Paint

A potentially explosive report has linked the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI to the discovery of a network of gay prelates in the Vatican, some of whom – the report said – were being blackmailed by outsiders.

The pope’s spokesman declined to confirm or deny the report, which was carried by the Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica.

The paper said the pope had taken the decision on 17 December that he was going to resign – the day he received a dossier compiled by three cardinals delegated to look into the so-called “Vatileaks” affair.

Last May Pope Benedict’s butler, Paolo Gabriele, was arrested and charged with having stolen and leaked papal correspondence that depicted the Vatican as a seething hotbed of intrigue and infighting.

In a friend-of-the-court brief filed today before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Americans United and other groups assert that Anthony J. Farina’s sentencing was prejudiced because prosecutor John Tanner pursued a “biblical strategy” during Farina’s penalty phase. Farina had been found guilty of murder, and Tanner argued that the Bible – specifically the Book of Romans – called for the death penalty.

Tanner cross-examined a minister who had counseled Farina in prison, arguing with him over questions about the nature of the Bible, the crucifixion of Jesus and the Christian concept of forgiveness. Tanner asserted that the “infallible word of God” mandates capital punishment.

“Portions of this trial read like a medieval debate on the nature of God, not a proceeding in a secular American court,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Punishment for crimes should be based on what the law allows, not what someone believes the Bible mandates.”

During the sentencing phase of the trial, Tanner grilled Farina’s pastor, the Rev. James Davis, demanding to know his interpretation of passages in the Book of Romans.

During his summation, Tanner again alluded to the portion of Romans that provides that those who “rebel against the authority…will bring judgment on themselves,” by arguing to the jury that Farina and a co-defendant “brought this judgment upon themselves.”

The jury subsequently voted 12-0 in favor of the death penalty.

My colleague Rob Boston says Americans United has received far more reports of dubious election intervention this season than any year since 1992 when AU first began monitoring church electioneering activities in a formal way.

This is a critically important issue for our democracy. We already have serious problems with vast amounts of money being dropped into campaigns. Imagine how much more devastating it would be if every house of worship jumped into elections, too.

News reports from other countries reveal how divisive it is when politics comes down to warring religious tribes. In many Middle Eastern countries, government must try to balance the interests of the Sunnis and the Shiites and the Alawites and the various Christian denominations. And it doesn’t take much for this kind of sectarian rivalry to spill over into civil unrest, persecution or even war.