Pope Francis acknowledges existence of ‘gay lobby’ inside VaticanJune 12, 2013 - 17:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Pope Francis is reported to have acknowledged the existence of a "gay lobby" inside the Vatican, BBC News reported. He also said there was a "stream of corruption", according to Catholic media. He is said to have made the remarks during a private meeting with a group of Latin American Catholic clerics. The clerics wrote up a report of the conversation that then appeared on the Chilean website Reflection and Liberation. According to the report, the Pope was extremely open as he discussed problems at the Vatican. He is said to have told the Latin American delegation that there were good, holy men in the administration, but that there was also corruption. The Vatican would have to "see what we can do" about the "gay lobby" operating in the bureaucracy, he said. "It is true, it is there," the report quotes him as saying. In the days leading up to Pope Benedict XVI's resignation in February, the Italian media carried many un-sourced reports that gay Vatican clergymen had been working together to advance their personal interests, leaving the Holy See vulnerable to blackmail. There were even suggestions that the situation had influenced Benedict's decision to resign. At the time, the Vatican vigorously denied all the rumours. It has so far declined to make any comment regarding the Pope's reported remarks, other than that the audience with the Latin American clerics was private. An organisation representing the clerics, known by its Spanish acronym CLAR, has said it has apologised to the Pope for the publication of the report. CLAR said in a statement that it "deeply regretted the publication of a text which refers to the conversation with the Holy Father". Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. |