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Pope’s Butler Gets 18 Months in Prison Over ‘Vatileaks’ Scandal

Oct. 6, 2012 7:26am Madeleine Morgenstern

Popes Butler Paolo Gabriele Gets 18 Months in Prison Over Vatileaks Scandal

This file photo taken on Oct. 10, 2006 shows Pope Benedict XVI with then-butler Paolo Gabriele arriving with the pontiff during a weekly general audience at St Peter's Square. Gabriele was convicted Saturday of stealing private papal documents and sentenced to 18 months in prison. (Getty Images)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The pope’s butler was convicted Saturday of stealing the pontiff’s private documents and leaking them to a journalist, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Judge Giuseppe Dalla Torre read the verdict aloud two hours after the three-judge panel began deliberating Paolo Gabriele’s fate.

The sentence was reduced to 18 months from three years because of a series of mitigating circumstances, including that Gabriele had no previous record, had worked for years for the Holy See, acknowledged that he had betrayed the pope and was convinced, “albeit erroneously” that he was doing the right thing, Dalla Torre said.

Gabriele was accused of stealing the pope’s private correspondence and passing it on to journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi, whose book revealed the intrigue, petty infighting and allegations of corruption and homosexual liaisons that plague the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

In his final appeal to the court Saturday morning, Gabriele insisted “I don’t feel like a thief” and said he leaked the pope’s private correspondence out of a “visceral love” for the church and the pope. He has said he felt the pope wasn’t being informed of the “evil and corruption” in the Vatican, and that exposing the problems would put the church back on the right track.

Gabriele’s attorney, Cristiana Arru, said the sentence was “good, balanced” and said she was awaiting the judges’ written reasoning before deciding whether to appeal.

Nuzzi’s book, “His Holiness: Pope Benedict XVI’s Secret Papers” convulsed the Vatican for months and prompted an unprecedented response, with the pope naming a commission of cardinals to investigate the origin of the leaks alongside Vatican magistrates.

Arru said Gabriele would return to his Vatican City apartment to begin serving his sentence. He has been held on house arrest there since July after spending his first two months in a Vatican detention room.

Gabriele was also ordered to pay court costs.

A papal pardon is widely expected, though it’s not known when it might be granted.

In her closing arguments, Arru insisted that only photocopies, not original documents, were taken from the Apostolic Palace, disputing testimony from the pope’s secretary who said he saw original letters in the evidence seized from Gabriele’s home.

She admitted Gabriele’s gesture was “condemnable” but said it was a misappropriation of documents, not theft, and that as a result Gabriele should serve no time for the lesser crime.

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Comments (36)

jaylew
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 1:53pm
Okay so the Butler did it in the Conservatory with a lead pipe…i mean pope.

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Bargis Tryhol
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 8:23am
http://satireworld.com/world-news-headlines/201103180859/pope-benedict-goes-to-mount-olive-popeye-almost-kills-him/

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- exposejesuits
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 9:27am
  The Bible puts the power of a local church into the hands of a Godly pastor. But
  the cunning Jesuits successfully managed over the years to remove that
  power into the hands of denomination headquarters, and have now pushed
  almost all of the Protestant denominations into the arms of the Vatican.
  This is exactly what Ignatius de Loyola set out to accomplish: a universal
  church and the end of Protestantism.
  As you read “The Secret History of the Jesuits,” you will see there is a
  parallel between the religious and political sectors. The author, Mr. Paris,
  reveals the penetration and infiltration of the Jesuits into the governments
  and nations of the world to manipulate the course of history by setting up
  dictatorships, and weakening democracies such as the United States of
  America, by paving the way for social, political, moral, military, educational
  and religious anarchy.
  
  Report this comment
tradcatholicgirl
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 7:57am
Just for perspective………..

An episcopal friend of mine just revealed her anger at staying away from her parish because the pastor there has been stealing money for several years. He will now be leaving on the pretext of health. No news story, of course. Nor should there be. Small town stuff.

Another colleague of mine has revealed that there were allegations of sexual abuse for years in her protestant evangelical church. Pastor left. He has a record now though. No news story. Nor should there be. Enough pain has been caused.

And then there are the tens of thousands of teachers who molest who no one ever hears about. They are quietly gone. Or a local news story comes and goes. The percentage of teachers who molest dwarfs the percentage of those priests who have been accused. Should we condemn public education????

The truth is hard to see — that the Catholic Church is, and always will be, condemned for the actions of a few over the history. There are never stories about all the unsung heroism in the Church. Thousand and thousands of priests and nuns who ARE faithful, humble servants of Our Lord.

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conservativewoman
Posted on October 7, 2012 at 1:40am
Protestants (or whatever you call yourselves now, since many of you just sit home and read your own interpretation of the bible and do not attend a church) are notoriously defensive about being heretics, so you bash the Catholic Church. Yes, we Catholics have noticed how defensive you are. That could be the only reason you take the time to say such vile things about the Church, and so often. Satan is having a field day watching you split into 32,000 denominations, and now saying you don’t even need church; you just need the Bible. He wants you as far away from the truth as possible, and you are falling for it! You see, Satan knows he can’t destroy the Church, so he just flooded the market (32,000 protestant denominations) to tear you away, and it worked on many of you. Satan loves that you would say such vile things about those that do so much good in the world. Satan wants you to forget that Catholics are God’s creation just like you. He puts arrogance in your hearts to condemn others in order to support your own beliefs. We true Catholics see you for what you are, but we do pray for you, and we continue to pray, even as you condemn us. The Catholic Church is still here while many empires have fallen throughout the centuries. There is a reason for that. I am inviting all of you Protestants to attend a Mass and find out what the Catholic Church is really like, instead of just passing vile rumors around that you bought from the media. You will always be welcomed.

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- teddrunk
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 8:36am
  Come down off you religious pedestal lady. There wouldn’t be all these Protestant (I can see it’s a dirty word to you) denominations if it hadn’t been for the abuses of power and corruption of the Catholic Church. (Take an indulgence out of petty cash to give to the Inquisition). If that’s all old news, perhaps we can discuss the Catholic Church in America’s Seminaries being infiltrated by pedophiles, as well in a political sense Communists starting in the late 1950′s. Today’s Catholic Church is more concerned with finances, from dwindling numbers as well as law suits, than the proper culling of it’s membership of those that support infanticide as well as deviancy.
  
  Report this comment
christos
Posted on October 6, 2012 at 6:30pm
…The Pope is not appointed by +JESUS+GOD+ he is no more +HOLY+ than any other person who believes in +JESUS+ the Bible says be +HOLY+ like your +FATHER+ in Heaven is,,,Fraud just trying to cover up “Pedophilia” Disgusting.

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- exposejesuits
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 6:41pm
  Immigration had caused Catholic church membership to grow three times faster than Protestant membership in the 1840s. Pointing with pride to this fact (which Protestants viewed with alarm), Archbishop Hughes in 1850 delivered a well-publicized address The Decline of Protestantism and Its Causes.
  ‘The object we hope to accomplish,’ said Hughes, ‘is to convert all Pagan nations and all Protestant nations…
  There is no secrecy in all this …
  Our mission [is] to convert the world—including the inhabitants of the United States—the people of the cities, and the people of the country … the Legislatures, the Senate, the Cabinet, the President, and all!’
  The archbishopric’s newspaper proclaimed that ‘Protestantism is effete, powerless, dying out … and conscious that its last moment is come when it is fairly set, face to face, with Catholic truth.”‘
  McPherson, James M., Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era, Oxford History of the United States, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988)
  
  Report this comment
- Verceofreason
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 10:03pm
  I heard teh butler was trying to sell the Pope’s used thongs on eBay.
  
  Report this comment
- conservativewoman
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 1:44am
  @Christos
  I hope you find a way to resolve you anger. Otherwise, it is going to ruin your life.
  
  Report this comment
- christos
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 6:37pm
  conservativewoman – Attempting to call the truth anger does not make it so,,,your time would be better spent bowing to the pope & rubbing you beads repeating your drone prayers to your saints or Mary when +JESUS+GOD+ does not even listen too.You shouldn’t show your disbelief it is not flattering.
  
  Report this comment
- PaxInVeritate
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 11:34pm
  CHRISTOS… my Brother in Jesus Christ, I pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for you daily.
  
  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
  
  Recite 1x
  You expired, O Jesus, but the Source of Life gushed forth for souls and the Ocean of Mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
  
  Recite 3x
  O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You.
  
  Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed.
  
  Then on each large bead recite 1x
  Eternal Father, I offer You the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for the sins of the world and for the salvation of all Your children. Amen.
  
  Then recite on small beads:
  For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
  
  Closing Prayers:
  Say 3x:
  Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
  Then:
  Eternal God, Your Mercy is endless, and Your treasury of compassion is inexhaustible. Look with kindness upon us and increase Your Mercy within us, so that, in difficult moments, we may not despair, nor become despondent, but may, with great confidence, submit ourselves to Your Holy Will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen.
  
  Report this comment
universalphilos
Posted on October 6, 2012 at 5:10pm
You mean the butler did it?

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- exposejesuits
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 9:45am
  “Every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society — the farmers, mechanics, and laborers — who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their government.”
  – Andrew Jackson
  (1767-1845) 7th US President
  Source: veto of national bank bill, July 10, 1832
  
  Report this comment
NineteenEighty4
Posted on October 6, 2012 at 11:13am
When revealing the truth becomes criminalized, that is truly the sign of the times. Someone exposes the Church’s bribery, ties with the Italian mafia, child rape, and systemic corruption, and they punish the man who made it known. Who is the true criminal? Those who are guilty still walk free.

Let’s see here, this man supposedly stole from the Vatican. Better have his guilt or innocence determined by the very leaders of the Vatican he is accused of stealing from. That is not justice. It is a sham trial run by pedophile power-brokers, not men of God. What an evil institution to be a part of and support.

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- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 11:28am
  Where does it say there is child rape? There is no more mollestation in the Catholic Church than there is in the Presbyterian or any other church.
  
  In fact you are more likely to be assaulted by a public school teacher than a priest.
  
  Way to stereotype
  
  Report this comment
- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 3:33pm
  I meant to add not just any church, but ANY other institution, be it businesses, non profits, and special interest groups suffer from sexual assault cases on par with the rates occurring in churches or anywhere else.
  
  Sexual battery is a serious human problem, but it is a HUMAN problem, that affects humans of all dogmas, professions and backgrounds, ethnic and financial, equally.
  
  Report this comment
- Verceofreason
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 10:06pm
  @Goat
  You are totally incorrect.
  A larger percentage of emotionally dysfunctional men decide to become priests.
  THAT’S where the problems starts.
  
  Report this comment
- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 10:27am
  Coming from the person above who said that the butler ‘tried to sell teh popes thongs on eBay’ and whom also perennially makes a shameless buffoon of themselves trying to denegrate any discussion?
  
  Seems legitimate.
  
  Report this comment
capitalismrocks
Posted on October 6, 2012 at 11:11am
Good, there has to be ZERO tolerance for such actions against the trust of the Pope, it is unthinkable that someone would do that to the Holy See in the first place.

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- Bluebonnet
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 11:32am
  Don’t bother reading the story. The Butler did it.
  
  Report this comment
exposejesuits
Posted on October 6, 2012 at 10:17am
We came in like lambs and rule like wolves.We shall be expelled like dogs and Return like eagles. -Fancesco Borgia[ 3rd Jesuit Superior General] Beware of false prophets,which come to in Sheeps clothing,but inwardly, they are ravening wolves. - JESUS CHRIST [Mathew 7:15 KJV]

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exposejesuits
Posted on October 6, 2012 at 10:16am
The black pope Adolfo and his 6 generals control the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican Bank(richest bank in the world), space laws, maritime laws, other jesuits, jesuit teachings in the Vatican, Knights of Malta, illuminati, black nobility, CIA, FBI, other secret services, Council of Foreign Relations, Bilderberg, IMF, multiple world banks, FED, and the trilateral commission. The illuminati, Bilderberg, CFR, IMF, etc kill the elite who opposed the idea of the FED in order to create the FED. Jesuits were the ones that came up wit the idea of the UN.

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- by faith
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 10:56am
  Does “the black pope” wield the true power in the Vatican?
  
  There is a person sometimes called “the black pope,” but his existence is not a secret and he does not have anywhere near as much power as the real pope. “The black pope” is a nickname given to the Father General of the Society of Jesus. When the Jesuits were the most prestigious, influential missionary order in the world, the people of Rome began to speak jokingly of their head as a second pope. They called him “the black pope” because he wore the Jesuits’ black clerical garb, in contrast to the real pope, who wore white and became known as “the white pope.”
  
  “The black pope” does not have authority over anyone but Jesuits. Sometimes people point to him as evidence of a conspiracy in the Vatican, but what they really have is a garbled understanding of a Catholic in-joke.
  
  Chick publications has lied to you
  
  Report this comment
- by faith
  Posted on October 9, 2012 at 5:44pm
  Expose
  I see you are good at accusations, but not so good at facts
  
  No attempt to defend your lies?
  
  Report this comment
exposejesuits
Posted on October 6, 2012 at 10:16am
The The world is controlled by the Jesuits, Black Nobility, and the Vatican. The Jesuits are a military organization not a religious order. The vatican and the Jesuits are not Christianity. The New World Order is controlled by elite jesuits and the black pope Adolfo Nicolas. The world bankers are NOT top of the food chain. They all follow the jesuit order and follow the supreme jesuit general aka black pope Adolfo Nicolas. The other jesuit elites are Adolfo’s 6 generals which is known as his assistance. Adolfo directs and guide the white pope and tells him what to do and say. The white pope is not a christian. When Jesuits and the Vatican say they believe in God they are referring to Lucifer as the God. Christians have been fooled for centuries that the Vatican is pure is told what to do and is given ideas form the Jesuit Elite, The Jesuits also sank the titanic to and good when the Vatican and the Jesuits have destroyed sovereign nations across the globe. The illuminati was created by the Jesuits in the 1700′s because at that time Jesuitism was banned in 80 countries. People at that time knew the Vatican was corrupt and desired world dominance. A lot of ppl are now learnin about the new world order but they are being taught the fake jew banker world order. Yes i know world bankers have great power but they all follow the vatican. Think about it, every world leader goes to and respects the Vatican no matter what religion they believe in.

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Mikev5
Posted on October 6, 2012 at 8:26am
18 months thats crazy low would you want someone stealing your private business info and selling it to the highest bidder? NO

Freeberty what one person in a group does wrong means all in the group are guilty? you are pathetic that’s like saying all Americans are bad because of one bad American get a life you @ss

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- antitheist
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 9:56am
  No, they are guilty because instead of taking the perpetrator of child rape to justice, they instead actively moved that perp around as to have him avoid jail time and avoid answering to justice. Oh, and they are also guilty because instead of rightfully calling those children victims of rape, they instead choose to call them “homosexual participants”.
  
  Report this comment
- PaxInVeritate
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 10:04am
  MIKEV5… Catholic bashers are who and what they are. Signs of the times. It won’t change until Jesus Christ’s return which is soon. Don’t engage with them (particularly in a vulgar manor), just fast and pray for all.
  
  Report this comment
- freeberty
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 10:09am
  Mikev5
  
  It looks like you fit right in with those that profess a higher moral authority, colluding with those at the highest levels to cover up the over 10,000 reported cases of abuse and allowing those guilty to continue to prey on the most innocent.
  
  Thanks for showing who is truly pathetic.
  
  Report this comment
- freeberty
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 10:18am
  Paxinveritate,
  
  So those that wish to see genuine evil by those in power perpetrated on the most innocent exposed to the light, are now called bashers?
  
  I think I know whom you should be praying for, and it’s not me.
  
  Report this comment
- PaxInVeritate
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 10:58am
  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
  
  Recite 1x
  You expired, O Jesus, but the Source of Life gushed forth for souls and the Ocean of Mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
  
  Recite 3x
  O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You.
  
  Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed:
  
  1x on each large bead
  Eternal Father, I offer You the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for the sins of the world and for the salvation of all Your children. Amen.
  
  Then recite 10x on small beads
  For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
  
  Closing Prayers:
  3x:
  Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
  
  Then:
  “Eternal God, Your Mercy is endless, and Your treasury of compassion is inexhaustible. Look with kindness upon us and increase Your Mercy within us, so that, in difficult moments, we may not despair, nor become despondent, but may, with great confidence, submit ourselves to Your Holy Will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen.”
  
  Report this comment
- christos
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 6:27pm
  freeberty – I agree with you,,,,it is Disgusting why if anyone would a church have anything to HIDE,,,,+JESUS+GOD+ said all things shall be revealed,,,the butler is a HERO.
  
  Report this comment
freeberty
Posted on October 6, 2012 at 7:51am
So that’s how redemption works. Molest children and you’re given a free pass. Take the scribblings of an old man and your thrown in jail.

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- PATTY HENRY
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 1:10pm
  what is so pathetic about you, @ FREEBERTY, is that you don’t realize the sins you speak of are universal, that less than .01% of all Catholics in authority have ever been involved or accused to be involved with this dastardly, evil deed (child molestation) but the rest have been involved with saving lives, caring for poor, sick, elderly, homeless and providing guidelines for proper living as taught by Our Lord, Jesus Christ in the CHURCH HE designated.
  Tread carefully, fellow life traveler, lest you lie about the GOD who made you.
  
  Report this comment
- christos
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 6:42pm
  freeberty – You speak Truth,Catholics believe they own everything & everyone,,,why secrecy in a Church what do they have to hide.
  
  Report this comment

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