ITALY
The Times (UK)
Philip Willan, Rome
January 2 2017
The Times
A priest in the northern Italian city of Padua has been accused of organising orgies in his rectory, acting as a pimp to some of his 15 lovers and concealing pornographic home videos in covers bearing the names of popes.
Father Andrea Contin, 48, the parish priest at the church of San Lazzaro, is under police investigation on suspicion of living off immoral earnings and psychological violence, following complaints from three of his female parishioners. A variety of sex toys and videos showing orgies taking place on the premises were also seized.
He is said to have farmed out some of his lovers to male customers on wife swapping websites. The priest is also alleged to have enjoyed lavish holidays with his female friends, including a stay at a naturist village in the French town of Cap d’Agde.
Complaints were first made to the local bishop last summer but church authorities failed to contact the police, saying they had not yet completed their own investigation.
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