Suspended Monsignor Says He Has Secret "Vatican Gay List"

Posted by Pam Spaulding at 11:00 AM on October 23, 2007.

This post, written by Pam Spaulding, originally appeared on Pandagon

My, my, my...are we about to see a papal outing?

Earlier this week, Monsignor Tommaso Stenico was suspended from his position in the Vatican's Congregation for Clergy, which is charged with ensuring proper conduct by priests. Stenico's conduct was a bit out of sorts with the Vatican line as he participated in a TV program and was interviewed about sexual relationships with men -- and his lack of guilt about it as he declared himself an "active homosexual."

In the program on a private Italian television network, the monsignor said he "didn't feel he was sinning" by having sex with gay men, Rome daily La Repubblica reported Saturday. Vatican officials recognized the Vatican office in the interview took place, La Repubblica reported.

When he was recognized by Vatican officials and suspended, Stenico quickly denied he was gay and said he was merely doing research.

Apparently that must not have been enough for the angry homos at the top, because now Stenico faces being defrocked, but he's talking to the press about a list of names in his possession -- and the folks aren't on it for being on their knees...praying.

Father Tommaso Stenico, 60, had "a detailed dossier" of all the homosexual clerics at Vatican "with a list of names and circumstances implicating a certain number of priests and even bishops working at the Curia," Ignazio Ingrao, reporter for the conservative news weekly said.

Stenico also sent his superior Cardinal Claudio Hummes a report denouncing the moral degradation within the Curia, which could make the Vatican "tremble," Ingrao said.

According to Panorama, Stenico, who also worked for a Catholic television station Telepace and owns a white BMW car, also drew up the list out of resentment at having waited so long to be named a bishop.

Tagged as: sex, catholic church, homophobia, stenico

Pam Spaulding blogs at Pam's House Blend.