while this is qualitative of all organized religion this story is about the Vatican.
"Vatileaks erupted into a full-blown scandal with the publication two weeks ago of a book of Vatican documents alleging corruption and conspiracies among cardinals".
"The Vatican bank was another source of tension. Thirty years ago, it was enmeshed in allegations of money-laundering and Mafia links. The Vatican now wants to join the so-called white list of countries that share financial information to fight tax evasion, which would help rid the Holy See of its reputation for shady transactions and as a tax haven".
secretive religious orgs. are subject to the same malady's as the rest of the world "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely". all religious orgs. are objects of power, that which controls your soul can exude untold amounts of influence on one who believes not only in The Deity, our Lord, but the conveyors of his intent through a common interpretation, not always as it reads.
the most detrimental being the "The Sword of Damocles" scenario giving you a choice believe or burn. powerful as it is it is probably IMO the most influential tool man has to subjugate man.
i wonder the writings of the Holy Books were by scribes as relayed by the prophets in their interpretation. what puzzle's me is why the two books, did man later decide either God or the Prophet's maybe went a little to far with harsh punishments and Commandments and changed the original text to lighten the load so to speak, creating a more acceptable religion to it's flock. now in this century they are doing it again, changing toleration of defiant offense's accepting hate and dissention, ignoring all that is good about the the Holy Books, in lieu of hate and rebellion to our Lord God.
is our need to believe in something making us susceptible to any and all charlatans who would in the name of God use and abuse us and the word?
"YES", we can search our hearts and if what is being taught is not what you felt religion is before hearing those things of hate, it's radical rebellion and you have just been inducted. if hurting your fellow man is anywhere in your teachings, find another teacher. please click title
