pozarski
09.04.10, 04:39
andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/04/the-vaticans-watergate-follow-the-money.html
panstwa.
Among those who were recipients of large gifts were the head of the
Congregation for Religious, the organization that actually had the authority
to investigate Maciel. That gift - in true mafioso style - was a lavish and
generous renovation of his residence.
Maciel then wanted to institute a personal vow for members of the Legion -
as a way to bind cult-members to silence about any and all of Maciel's crimes.
Even the head of the Congregation for Religious, in his newly fabulous
apartment, balked at this. So Maciel went directly to John Paul II's key aide
and personal confidant, Polish Msgr Dziwisz. And by going directly, I mean
funneling huge amounts of cash. One way Maciel did this was by selecting key
wealthy Legion members for attendance at the Pope's private mass. These
Legionnaires subsequently donated vast amounts to Dziwisz as a gift to the
church - a bit like getting campaign contributions by having private access to
politicians. Money quote:
One of the ex-Legionaries in Rome told NCR that a Mexican family in 1997
gave Dziwisz $50,000 upon attending Mass. "We arranged things like that," he
said of his role as go-between. Did John Paul know about the funds?