Rome, Italy, Nov 2, 2007 / 08:42 am
An Italian monk has been exposed for taking bribes in annulment cases in the Italian city of Fermo.
The unidentified monk, a member of the Missionaries of Faith religious order, allegedly asked for thousands of Euros to speed the progress of annulment applications through his tribunal in the region of Marche, according to ANSA.
He was secretly taped and exposed by a private investigator who posed as a desperate husband trying to obtain an annulment.
"What this official did borders on blasphemy," the former head of the Marche Ecclesiastical Tribunal, Monsignor Vinicio Albanesi, told Il Resto del Carlino. Monsignor Albanesi likened the monk's action to simony, the buying or selling of spiritual things.
Some ecclesiastical sources said the monk's alleged actions would not be viewed as serious enough to warrant further punishment. The monk reportedly had been moved to Fermo after being removed from a similar assignment in Rome.
Annulment cases must prove that a marriage was entered into invalidly. Evidence for annulment requires some defect in one or both parties to a marriage, such as lack of sound mind, a lack of intention to remain faithful to the spouse, or an intention never to have children.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.
As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Click hereOur mission is the truth. Join us!
Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Donate to CNA