Latest WikiLeaks Reveal Embarrasses Vatican

The latest revelation from WikiLeaks sheds an embarrassing light on the Vatican, revealing what most already knew: that the Holy See is as embroiled in PR-concerned political negotiations as any other government. As the AP reports, at particular issue was the Vatican and the government of Ireland, which was investigating a major clergy sex-abuse scandal and investigation.

Messages from diplomats on the subejct reveal that they found Vatican was furious when Ireland attempted to subejct its higher-ranked clergy to questioning by a government investigation, believing such a move impinged on the Vatican's "sovereignty." Reports the AP:

That the Holy See used its diplomatic immunity status as a tiny-city state to try to thwart Ireland's government-led probe has long been known. But the WikiLeaks cables, published by Britain's The Guardian newspaper on Saturday, contain delicate, behind-the-scenes diplomatic assessments of the highly charged situation.

Essentially, the church leveraged intense pressure on the Irish government not to subject these high-ranking clergy (who may have been involved in one way or another with the abuse of kids) to questioning, and the government eventually complied. 

Another embarrassing revelation was a rift in Anglican-Vatican relations, including a fear of renewed anti-Catholic violence in Britain, after the Pope tried to poach conservative Anglicans distressed by their church's growing acceptance of women and gays.

Read more at the AP, via Huffington Post.