Author to Discuss Vatican Money Trail

By Terry Oparka
C and G Newspapers
May 13, 2015

http://www.candgnews.com/news/author-discuss-vatican-money-trail-83489

Author Gerald Posner has investigated some high-profile issues for the 12 books he’s written.

An attorney and former chief investigative reporter for The Daily Beast, he’s written books about Motown, as well as the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Posner said he has wanted to research Vatican finances since ’84, when he was doing pro bono work in Argentina researching Nazi Joseph Mengele — known as the “Angel of Death” for his torture of men, women and children at the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II — for a lawsuit he brought on behalf of surviving twins from Auschwitz.

While in the Argentine federal police archives, Posner said, he came across files on a priest and a bishop who had helped Nazis after World War II.

He’s been working on his book, “God’s Bankers,” which he said is an in-depth examination of Vatican finances, since 2005.

He will talk about the book and about his writing process at the Troy Public Library May 17.

Troy Public Library Director Cathy Russ was asked to serve on the board of the Metro Detroit Book & Author Society, which hosts two luncheons a year featuring nationally acclaimed authors. They have included authors Harlan Coben, Cokie Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Brad Thor and Sara Paretsky. This year’s luncheon is May 18.

“I was excited about the opportunity to be on the board, not only because I love books and reading, but because I thought this might be a way to bring more nationally known authors to the Troy Public Library and give the Troy community an opportunity to hear from big-name authors,” Russ said.

She said she thought Posner would fit for Troy because of the “wide and varied range of topics and because he is a dynamic speaker.”

Posner has been featured on National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition,” “The Diane Rehm Show” and “Topical Currents,” and the HBO TV show “Real Time with Bill Maher.”

“The story is different from what I thought,” he said. “It turned out not to be about religion. I followed the money inside the Vatican. It’s not about religion or faith in God. It’s about men who run the church and proved time and time again they are mortal.

“I’m Catholic. I just view this as history. With history, you don’t get to leave out the low points. Francis as Pope brings a whole new equation as to what will happen, whether finance reforms in the Vatican will be real.”

Posner noted that had he finished the book during Pope Benedict XVI’s reign, “the ending would have been different.”

“It’s not anti-Vatican,” he said.

Posner’s wife, Trisha, also an author, works with him. She’s written “This Is Not Your Mother’s Menopause: One Woman’s Natural Journey Through Change,” and “No Hormones, No Fear: A Natural Journey Through Menopause.”

He said that when he hits the send button on a manuscript, he loses all confidence that people will want to read his book.

“There’s some angst that no one in the public will be remotely interested,” he said.

Posner said he enjoys speaking to high school and college students via Skype, and he likes speaking at libraries.

The Friends of the Troy Public Library are underwriting the cost of Posner’s visit. Posner will sign his books at the event, but there will be no sales of his book at the library. Posner said the publisher works with local Barnes & Noble stores that agree to stock his books in advance of his events.

Posner will speak from 2:30-4 p.m. May 17 at the Troy Public Library, 510 W. Big Beaver Road. Call (248) 524-3542 or visit www.troypl.org to register.