Bishop Steps down Amid Gay Sex Scandal, Michael in Norfolk, July 6, 2009

Bishop Steps down Amid Gay Sex Scandal

Michael-in-Norfolk
July 6, 2009

http://michael-in-norfolk.blogspot.com/2009/07/bishop-steps-down-amid-gay-sex-scandal.html

Over at Joe My God, Joe has his usual Monday "This Week In Holy Crimes" that looks at the sexual and monetary misdeeds of clergy and various church ministry folks. As usual, the hypocrisy meter goes off the charts. My own personal favorite of the week is that of Roman Catholic Bishop Francisco Domingo Barbosa Da Silveira who has stepped down from his ministry amid a gay sex scandal. It seems that the good bishop hired some male prostitutes at least one of whom documented the encounters with the camera on his cell phone. Not surprisingly, the Vatican was none too happy and accepted Bishop Barbosa's resignation. Here are some highlights from On Top Magazine:

Uruguayan Bishop Francisco Domingo Barbosa Da Silveira has stepped down from his ministry amid a gay sex scandal, reports the AFP. Barbosa is alleged to have engaged in gay sex with two men whom he hired late last year. Using a cell phone camera, the two men filmed at least one of the encounters and attempted to extort money from the bishop.

The allegations surfaced as the men stood trial in an Uruguay courtroom after Barbosa sought relief from the authorities, and pressed charges against the two men. The diocese of Minas demanded his resignation after the scandal surfaced.

The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral governance of the diocese of Minas submitted by Monsenor Francisco Domingo Barbosa Da Silveira,” the Vatican said in a statement. The Vatican accepted the bishop's resignation under a Canon Law article that orders “A diocesan Bishop who, because of illness or some other grave reason, has become unsuited for the fulfillment of his office, is earnestly requested to offer his resignation from office.”

Over the past year, Pope Benedict has increased his attacks on being gay and gay rights, calling gay sex “intrinsically evil,” and refusing to sign onto a United Nations resolution that calls for the universal decriminalization of being gay because he feared it would lead to more countries legalizing gay marriage.