By Nick Pisa
Daily Mail
May 26, 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1390799/Lap-dancer-turned-nun-angers-Pope-Monastery-shut-Benedict-XVI.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
[with video]
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| Heavens above: Rome's Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem played host to dancing nuns |
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| Out of Order: Nightclub dancer turned dancing nun Anna Nobili is among those who have helped heap notoriety on the Santa Croce monastery |
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| Internet sensation: Sister Anna's modern dance in front of an altar with a crucifix became a YouTube hit |
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| Like a virgin: Pop star Madonna was smuggled into the monastery and spent over an hour with the relics there |
Pope Benedict XVI has closed a monastery, visited by Madonna, where a stripper turned nun was a star attraction.
Vatican officials launched an inquiry following claims of 'liturgical abuse' at the monastery, after reports that the nuns were dancing around the altar during services.
Among them was sister Anna Nobili, 38, who became an overnight YouTube sensation after footage of the stripper-turned-nun preaching was posted on the internet.
The Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life, which investigates allegations of misconduct in monasteries and convents, began their investigation after reports of the dancing nuns reached Pope Benedict.
The order of Cistercian monks are based in the monastery, which is in Rome's Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem.
It is one of the Catholic Church's most popular shrines and contains relics from Christ's Crucifixion.
In recent years it has become the focal point for the 'Friends of Santa Croce', an aristocratic group who have attracted criticism for their unorthodox interpretation of religion - including the dancing nuns - although they were not part of the order.
A Vatican source said: 'The decision to investigate the monastery was launched after reports were received of what was going on there - we need to remember this is a holy shrine containing relics of Christ.
'It was evident that the order had lapsed in its discipline and an Apostolic visitation was arranged, which resulted in the decision to close the monastery which was approved by Pope Benedict.'
It is not the first time the monastery has been the subject of controversy.
Two years ago the abbot there, Father Simone Fioraso, a flamboyant former designer, was removed following allegations of homosexuality.
The Basilica is one of the famous seven pilgrim churches of Rome and was built in 325AD.
It contains relics thought to be from Christ's Crucifixion including soil from around the site where he died and fragments of the cross.
Three years ago Madonna visited the basilica and spent more than an hour there on a guided tour of the relics after being secretly smuggled in through a side door.
The order has been at the basilica for more than 1500 years and the monks and nuns there have now been moved to other monasteries and convents across Italy.
Today the abbot general of the Cistercian Order, don Mauro Giuseppe Lepori, was unavailable, but a receptionist at their Rome headquarters said: 'The monastery has closed. We cannot say anything else.'
Vatican spokesman Father Ciro Benedetti confirmed that the monastery had closed.
He said: 'There were abuses there of a liturgical and economic nature and probable breaches of lifestyle not in keeping with that of a person with a religious order.'
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